408. First Love by John Clare
b"J Clare read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\\n\\n--------------------------------------------\\n\\nFirst Love\\nby John Clare (1793 \\u2013 1864)\\n \\nI ne'er was struck before that hour\\nWith love so sudden and so sweet,\\nHer face it bloomed like a sweet flower\\nAnd stole my heart away complete.\\nMy face turned pale as deadly pale.\\nMy legs refused to walk away,\\nAnd when she looked, what could I ail?\\nMy life and all seemed turned to clay.\\n\\nAnd then my blood rushed to my face\\nAnd took my eyesight quite away,\\nThe trees and bushes round the place\\nSeemed midnight at noonday.\\nI could not see a single thing,\\nWords from my eyes did start --\\nThey spoke as chords do from the string,\\nAnd blood burnt round my heart.\\n\\nAre flowers the winter's choice?\\nIs love's bed always snow?\\nShe seemed to hear my silent voice,\\nNot love's appeals to know.\\nI never saw so sweet a face\\nAs that I stood before.\\nMy heart has left its dwelling-place\\nAnd can return no more\\n\\n\\nFirst aired: 21 January 2009\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009"