First Love

I ne'er was struck before that hour 

With love so sudden and so sweet, 
Her face it bloomed like a sweet flower 
And stole my heart away complete. 
My face turned pale as deadly pale. 
My legs refused to walk away, 
And when she looked, what could I ail? 
My life and all seemed turned to clay.

And then my blood rushed to my face 
And took my eyesight quite away, 
The trees and bushes round the place 
Seemed midnight at noonday. 
I could not see a single thing, 
Words from my eyes did start -- 
They spoke as chords do from the string, 
And blood burnt round my heart.

John Clare

     The poet explains what happens to him when he falls in love for the first time, and how his world and perspective view changes. When he fell in love by saying “I ne’er was struck before that hour with love so sudden and so sweet” which suggests that he has fallen in love at first sight. Clare shows us different steps when you experience love at first sight. “Blood rushed to my face” illustrates that when you experience love at first sight you start to blush and get nervous when you start to talk because you want to show your object of desire how perfect you are.

     He was so shocked and confused that he thought he was so in love in an immensely short time. He conveys the message of not actually being in deep love but rather love at first.