Dander And Burdock

After a trip into town to buy doggie gifts I went for a stroll along the Stort Navigation from Parndon Mill towards Hunsdon. I've photographed this little bridge at sunset before, in fact that pic was chosen by Essex Police to grace their new control room. :)

I like the silhouetted burdock in this image and looked to see if John Clare had mentioned the plant in any of his poems. He had, in this very appropriate verse.

Farewell
John Clare

Farewell to the bushy clump close to the river
And the flags where the butter-bump hides in for ever;
Farewell to the weedy nook, hemmed in by waters;
Farewell to the miller’s brook and his three bonny daughters;
Farewell to them all while in prison I lie—
In the prison a thrall sees nought but the sky.

Shut out are the green fields and birds in the bushes;
In the prison yard nothing builds, blackbirds or thrushes.
Farewell to the old mill and dash of the waters,
To the miller and, dearer still, to his three bonny daughters.

In the nook, the large burdock grows near the green willow;
In the flood, round the moorcock dashes under the billow;
To the old mill farewell, to the lock, pens, and waters, 
To the miller himsel’, and his three bonny daughters.

I presume this was written when he was in the mental asylum. Poor John, separated from nature and the wildlife that he loved. :( (A butter-bump is a bittern.)