While Smoke Seas Roll - A Lament By John Clare Poem by Dr Ian Inkster

John Clare probably needs little introduction to Poemhunter members - prolific, mad, working class, mysterious, mystical and adventurous, he has all the attributes of the radical striving romantic poet! Much more from the working class and rural culture of his time than the others amongst the lasting poets, Clare struggled for his life, coherence, and his reputation. His poetry is often daunting, but here I select a very simple short and beautiful verse, that I do not think has been put to song before.

I sing this with only a ukulele in order to dramatise the isolation he makes of nature itself, small, unstable folk amidst large forces.

Dr Ian Inkster 2016