John Clare, Jimtom, Me As Well (at Clare’s statue in Shoe Town) by Bruce Hodder

John Clare sits, hat between his knees,
as Jimtom reads from a scribbled notebook
words the traffic makes it hard to hear.
The small audience all look comfortable,
gathered in the council quadrangle
in the winter night to praise the peasant poet.
When they read, their voices speak of fitted kitchens,
though politely. They are not the enemy.
But Jimtom’s somehow of the earth and trees,
of the ancient stones, of the hidden spaces
where the spirit breathes more easily
and you can live in natural communion.
John Clare sits, hat between his knees,
looking pleased as Jimtom weaves his poem.
When the others leave, perhaps we’ll all sit down,
in the gloom, Clare, Jimtom, me as well
and smoke and talk about Northampton.

Bruce Hodder lives with Michelle in Northampton, the most statistically average town in England. He has been published in quite a few magazines over the years, most recently ‘Academy of Heart and mind’ and ‘Winedrunk Sidewalk’.