"THE SCHOOLBOYS IN THE MORNING SOON AS DREST" John Clare c. 183_? ====================================================== The schoolboys in the morning soon as drest Went round the fields to play and look for nests They found a crows but dare not climb so high And looked for nests when any bird was nigh At length they got agen a bush to play And found a pinks nest round and mossed with grey And lined about with feathers and with hair They tryed to climb but brambles said forbear One found a stone and stronger then the rest And took another up to reach the nest Heres eggs they hollowed with a hearty shout Small round and blotched they reached and tore them out The old birds sat and hollowed pink pink pink And cattle hurried to the pond to drink ======== ========