When the sun stoops to meet the western sky
And noons hot hours have wanderd weary bye
They seek an awthorn bush or willow tree
Or stouk or shock where coolest shadows be…
Sunday Sayings: An extract from John Clare’s poem “The Shepherd’s calendar -August” to accompany this photo of sheep grazing and bathing in the late, late afternoon
PoetryPix 
Always good to have a John Clare moment, Laura.
I agree Tish about Clare – he had such a sad and difficult life and his poetry too often overlooked as simple but then he was a simple man of country observations
There was a nice little prog. about his life on Radio 4 Extra the other day.
Missed that as don’t have radio, Tish but I see there’s a very recent bio here
Thanks so much for this book link.
Sheep grazing and bathing in the afternoon feels like a peaceful moment. So beautiful, Laura 👍
thank you – Bach’s ‘where sheep may safely graze’ comes to mind
You’re most welcome. ☺️
Love the photo and the poem. Though what’s a stouk or shock?
many thanks Jude – I’ve assumed a stouc referred to stook or several sheaves of wheat/cereal crop, bundled and stood up to dry in the field but had to look up stock: “in England, twelve sheaves.” Lovely old agricultural terms displaced by the combine harvester!