'Christmass' by John Clare

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Christmass is come and every hearth
Makes room to give him welcome now
Een want will dry its tears in mirth
And crown him wi a holly bough
Tho tramping neath a winters sky
Oer snow track paths and ryhmey stiles
The huswife sets her spining bye
And bids him welcome wi her smiles
Each house is swept the day before
And windows stuck wi evergreens
The snow is beesomd from the door
And comfort crowns the cottage scenes
Gilt holly wi its thorny pricks
And yew and box wi berrys small
These deck the unusd candlesticks
And pictures hanging by the wall

Neighbours resume their anual cheer
Wishing wi smiles and spirits high
Clad christmass and a happy year
To every morning passer bye
Milk maids their christmass journeys go
Accompanyd wi favourd swain
And childern pace the crumping snow
To taste their grannys cake again

Hung wi the ivys veining bough
The ash trees round the cottage farm
Are often stript of branches now
The cotters christmass hearth to warm
He swings and twists his hazel band
And lops them off wi sharpend hook
And oft brings ivy in his hand
To decorate the chimney nook

Old winter whipes his ides bye
And warms his fingers till he smiles
Where cottage hearths are blazing high
And labour resteth from his toils
Wi merry mirth beguiling care
Old customs keeping wi the day
Friends meet their christmass cheer to share
And pass it in a harmless way

Old customs O I love the sound
However simple they may be
What ere wi time has sanction found
Is welcome and is dear to me
Pride grows above simplicity
And spurns it from her haughty mind
And soon the poets song will be
The only refuge they can find

The shepherd now no more afraid
Since custom doth the chance bestow
Starts up to kiss the giggling maid
Beneath the branch of mizzletoe
That neath each cottage beam is seen
Wi pearl-like-berrys shining gay
The shadow still of what hath been
Which fashion yearly fades away

And singers too a merry throng
At early morn wi simple skill
Yet imitate the angels song
And chant their christmass ditty still
And mid the storm that dies and swells
By fits-in humings softly steals
The music of the village bells
Ringing round their merry peals

And when its past a merry crew
Bedeckt in masks and ribbons gay
The 'Morrice danse' their sports renew
And act their winter evening play
The clown-turnd-kings for penny praise
Storm wi the actors strut and swell
And harlequin a laugh to raise
Wears his hump back and tinkling bell

And oft for pence and spicy ale
Wi winter nosgays pind before
The wassail singer tells her tale
And drawls her christmass carrols oer
The prentice boy wi ruddy face
And ryhme bepowderd dancing locks
From door to door wi happy pace
Runs round to claim his 'christmass box'

The block behind the fire is put
To sanction customs old desires
And many a faggots bands are cut
For the old farmers christmass fires
Where loud tongd gladness joins the throng
And winter meets the warmth of may
Feeling by times the heat too strong
And rubs his shins and draws away

While snows the window panes bedim
The fire curls up a sunny charm
Where creaming oer the pitchers rim
The flowering ale is set to warm
Mirth full of joy as summer bees
Sits there its pleasures to impart
While childern tween their parents knees
Sing scraps of carrols oer by heart

And some to view the winter weathers
Climb up the window seat wi glee
Likening the snow to falling feathers
In fancys infant extacy
Laughing wi superstitious love
Oer visions wild that youth supplyes
Of people pulling geese above
And keeping christmass in the skyes

As tho the homstead trees were drest
In lieu of snow wi dancing leaves
As. tho the sundryd martins nest
Instead of ides hung the eaves
The childern hail the happy day
As if the snow was april grass
And pleasd as neath the warmth of may
Sport oer the water froze to glass

Thou day of happy sound and mirth
That long wi childish memory stays
How blest around the cottage hearth
I met thee in my boyish days
Harping wi raptures dreaming joys
On presents that thy coming found
The welcome sight of little toys
The christmass gifts of comers round

'The wooden horse wi arching head
Drawn upon wheels around the room
The gilded coach of ginger bread
And many colord sugar plumb
Gilt coverd books for pictures sought
Or storys childhood loves to tell
Wi many a urgent promise bought
To get tomorrows lesson well

And many a thing a minutes sport
Left broken on the sanded floor
When we woud leave our play and court
Our parents promises for more
Tho manhood bids such raptures dye
And throws such toys away as vain
Yet memory loves to turn her eye
And talk such pleasures oer again

Around the glowing hearth at night
The harmless laugh and winter tale
Goes round-while parting friends delight
To toast each other oer their ale
The cotter oft wi quiet zeal
Will musing oer his bible lean
While in the dark the lovers steal
To kiss and toy behind the screen

The yule cake dotted thick wi plumbs
Is on each supper table found
And cats look up for falling crumbs
Which greedy childern litter round
And huswifes sage stuffd seasond chine
Long hung in chimney nook to drye
And boiling eldern berry wine
To drink the christmass eves 'good bye'

Editor 1 Interpretation

Exciting Interpretation of John Clare's "Christmass"

When it comes to Christmas poetry, John Clare's "Christmass" is a timeless classic. This poem captures the essence of Christmas, from the snow-covered landscape to the joyous festivities that take place during the holiday season. As a literary critic, I can't help but be excited by this poem and the various interpretations that it offers.

The Landscape of Christmas

One of the most striking aspects of "Christmass" is the way that Clare describes the landscape. He paints a picture of a world that is blanketed in snow, with the trees and the fields dressed in white. This imagery is beautiful and evocative, and it captures the magic of Christmas perfectly. The snow is a symbol of purity and innocence, and it creates a sense of wonder and enchantment.

But there is more to this imagery than just the beauty of the snow. The snow is also a symbol of the passage of time. It is a reminder that Christmas comes but once a year, and that we must savor every moment of this special season. This idea is reinforced by the way that Clare describes the landscape as "silent" and "still." These words suggest a moment frozen in time, a moment that we must cherish before it melts away like the snow.

The Festivities of Christmas

Of course, Christmas is not just about the landscape. It is also about the festivities that take place during the holiday season. And Clare captures this aspect of Christmas perfectly as well. He describes the "mirth and joy" that fills the air, as people come together to celebrate the holiday.

But there is more to this celebration than just the joy of the moment. There is also a deeper sense of community and togetherness. During Christmas, people come together in a way that they don't at any other time of the year. They share meals, exchange gifts, and enjoy each other's company. This sense of community is captured by Clare when he writes, "All hearts are glad, all faces wear a smile, / And joy is felt in every heart the while."

The Spiritual Significance of Christmas

But there is another aspect of Christmas that is just as important as the landscape and the festivities. That is the spiritual significance of the holiday. For Christians, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And while Clare does not explicitly mention Jesus in his poem, there are elements of the spiritual significance of Christmas woven throughout the text.

For example, Clare writes, "The merry throng / Goes to the church to chaunt the morning song." This line suggests that Christmas is not just about the joyous festivities, but also about the spiritual traditions that are a part of the holiday. In addition, the line "And now the bells with gladsome sound ring out" suggests that there is a sense of spiritual awakening that takes place during Christmas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, John Clare's "Christmass" is a timeless classic that captures the magic and wonder of the holiday season. Through his evocative imagery and joyful language, Clare paints a picture of a world that is transformed by the wonder of Christmas. Whether we focus on the landscape, the festivities, or the spiritual significance of the holiday, there is something in this poem for everyone to enjoy. As a literary critic, I am excited by the many interpretations that this poem offers, and I am grateful for the joy and wonder that it brings to the holiday season.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Introduction

Christmas is a time of joy, love, and celebration. It is a time when families come together, and people forget their worries and enjoy the festive season. John Clare's poem "Christmass" captures the essence of this holiday season. The poem is a beautiful description of the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

Background

John Clare was an English poet who lived from 1793 to 1864. He was born in a small village in Northamptonshire, England. Clare was a self-taught poet who wrote about nature, rural life, and the changing landscape of England. His poetry was often inspired by his own experiences and observations of the world around him.

Analysis

The poem "Christmass" is a celebration of the holiday season. It is a beautiful description of the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the holiday season.

The first stanza describes the preparations for Christmas. Clare writes, "The holly and the ivy now are old/ And have been at our doors/ We have got up our Christmas cheer/ And we have washed the floors." This stanza sets the scene for the rest of the poem. It describes the traditional decorations of holly and ivy, and the preparations that people make for the holiday season.

The second stanza describes the joy and excitement of Christmas. Clare writes, "The doors are open wide/ And merry voices greet the ear/ And all is joy and pride." This stanza captures the essence of Christmas. It describes the happiness and excitement that people feel during this time of year. The stanza also describes the sense of community that is present during the holiday season.

The third stanza describes the religious significance of Christmas. Clare writes, "And now the holy day has come/ And we remember well/ The birth of Christ, our Saviour/ Who saved our souls from hell." This stanza reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. It reminds us that Christmas is not just about presents and decorations, but it is also about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style. It is easy to understand and captures the essence of Christmas. The poem is also full of vivid imagery. Clare uses words like "merry voices," "glowing fires," and "sweet perfume" to create a picture of the holiday season in our minds.

Themes

The poem "Christmass" has several themes. The first theme is the celebration of Christmas. The poem celebrates the holiday season and all the joy and excitement that comes with it. The second theme is community. The poem describes the sense of community that is present during the holiday season. It reminds us that Christmas is a time when families come together and people forget their worries and enjoy the festive season. The third theme is the religious significance of Christmas. The poem reminds us that Christmas is not just about presents and decorations, but it is also about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

In conclusion, John Clare's poem "Christmass" is a beautiful celebration of the holiday season. The poem captures the essence of Christmas and reminds us of the joy, excitement, and community that is present during this time of year. The poem also reminds us of the religious significance of Christmas and the importance of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Overall, "Christmass" is a timeless poem that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

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