The Fallen Elm by JOHN CLARE

"Old elm that murmured in our chimney top
The sweetest anthem autumn ever made
And into mellow whispering calms would drop
When showers fell on thy many coloured shade
And when dark tempests mimic thunder made -
While darkness came as it would strangle light
With the black tempest of a winter night
That rocked thee like a cradle in thy root -
How did I love to hear the winds upbraid
Thy strength without - while all within was mute.
It seasoned comfort to our hearts' desire,
We felt that kind protection like a friend
And edged our chairs up closer to the fire,
Enjoying comfort that was never penned.
Old favourite tree, thou'st seen time's changes lower,
Though change till now did never injure thee;
For time beheld thee as her sacred dower
And nature claimed thee her domestic tree.
Storms came and shook thee many a weary hour,
Yet stedfast to thy home thy roots have been;
Summers of thirst parched round thy homely bower
Till earth grew iron - still thy leaves were green.
The children sought thee in thy summer shade
And made their playhouse rings of stick and stone;
The mavis sang and felt himself alone
While in thy leaves his early nest was made,
And I did feel his happiness mine own..."

John Clare goes on to describe how the old Elm tree was cut down to make place for enclosures:

"Self-interest saw thee stand in freedoms ways...
With axe at root he felled thee to the ground
& barked of freedom - O I hate the sound..."

John Constable, 'Study of the Trunk of an Elm Tree', oil painting, about 1821. V&A Museum no. 786-1888

John Constable (1776-1837)
'Study of the Trunk of an Elm Tree'
Oil painting
England
About 1821
Oil on canvas
Museum no. 786-1888