Helpston's John Clare Poem by Francis Duggan

In his tragic lifetime he suffered his share
A true poet of Nature was Helpston's John Clare
Far away from his family and far away from his wife
In Northampton Mental Asylum he lived out his life
His poems often read and recited today
The Thrush's Nest, I Am, The Badger, Clock A Clay
Despite his lack of education and mental illness great poems he did write
Poetic gems that are easy to read and recite
As a boy whilst he worked in the fields he learned the Wordsmith Trade
A natural poet true poets born not made
Northampton's Asylum's most famous inmate
His name it lives on as a poetic great
He proved that poverty and mental illness is no barrier to renown
Like 'tis said hard for to keep a good one down.