Meet me Tonight

O meet me to-night by the bright starlight,

     Now the pleasant Spring's begun.

My own dear maid, by the greenwood shade,

     In the crimson set of the sun,

                    Meet me to-night.

The sun he goes down with a ruby crown

     To a gold and crimson bed;

And the falling dew, from heaven so blue,

     Hangs pearls on Phoebe's head.

                    Love, leave the town.

Come thou with me; 'neath the green-leaf tree

     We'll crop the bonny sweet brere.

O come, dear maid, 'neath the hazlewood shade,

     For love invites us there.

                    Come then with me.

The owl pops, scarce seen, from the ivy green,

     With his spectacles on I ween:

See the moon's above and the stars twinkle, love;

     Better time was never seen.

                    O come, my queen.

The fox he stops, and down he drops

     His head beneath the grass.

The birds are gone; we're all alone;

     O come, my bonny lass.
                    Come, O come!

J.L. Cherry, Life and Remains of John Clare

(London and Northampton: Frederick Warne and J. Taylor and Son, 1873)