John Clare asks a single question over and over: what is it that makes a song truly live? Human noise, grand praises, even books—these wither fast, no matter how high-born or clever. What lasts, he insists, is the unkillable music right outside the door. Birdsong, the honey bee’s hum, tunes that were already old when Adam first heard them and that kept ringing through the rain while Noah’s ark drifted. The poem’s bobbing rhymes and short lines feel like a nursery song themselves, inviting us to pause and listen. There is a fleeting sigh for dead ambitions and forgotten cities, but the dominant mood isn’t sorrow; it’s quiet, delighted wonder. Clare looks at the natural world and finds an eternity that doesn’t need carving in stone—just a blue cap tootle-teeing in a tree, and every season singing creation’s glee back into the air.
Song's Eternity — Summary
What is song's eternity? Come and see. Can it noise and bustle be? Come and see. Praises sung or praises said Can it be? Wait awhile and these are dead-- Sigh, sigh; Be they high or lowly bred They die.
What is song's eternity? Come and see. Melodies of earth and sky, Here they be. Song once sung to Adam's ears Can it be? Ballads of six thousand years Thrive, thrive; Songs awaken with the spheres Alive.
Mighty songs that miss decay, What are they? Crowds and cities pass away Like a day. Books are out and books are read; What are they? Years will lay them with the dead-- Sigh, sigh; Trifles unto nothing wed, They die.
Dreamers, mark the honey bee; Mark the tree Where the blue cap "tootle tee" Sings a glee Sung to Adam and to Eve Here they be. When floods covered every bough, Noah's ark Heard that ballad singing now; Hark, hark,
"Tootle tootle tootle tee"-- Can it be Pride and fame must shadows be? Come and see-- Every season own her own; Bird and bee Sing creation's music on; Nature's glee Is in every mood and tone Eternity.