One Moment Just to Drink the Sound

The more I listened and the more
Each note seemed sweeter than before
And aye so different was the strain
She’d scarce repeat the note again:
— “Chew-chew chew-chew,’ and higher still:
‘Cheer-cheer cheer-cheer,’ more loud and shrill:
‘Cheer-up cheer-up cheer-up,’ and dropt
Low: ‘tweet tweet tweet jug jug jug,’ and stopt
One moment just to drink the sound
Her music made and then a round
Of stranger witching notes was heard…

John Clare, “The Progress of Rhyme”*