Ploughman Singing by John Clare Lyrics

Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met
Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky
And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet
Shows not her sleeve of grey to know her bye
Woke early, I arose and thought that first
In winter time of all the world was I
The old owls might have hallooed if they durst
But joy just then was up and whistled bye
A merry tune which I had known full long
But could not to my memory wake it back
Until the ploughman changed it to the song
O happiness, how simple is thy track
Tinged like the willow shoots, the east's young brow
Glows red and finds thee singing at the plough