John Clare - The Old Year lyrics

The Old Year's gone away To nothingness and night We cannot find him all the day Nor hear him in the night He left no footstep, mark or place In either shade or sun The last year he'd a neighbour's face In this he's known by none All nothing everywhere: Mists we on mornings see Have more of substance when they're here And more of form than he He was a friend by every fire In every cot and hall A guest to every heart's desire, And now he's nought at all Old papers thrown away Old garments cast aside The talk of yesterday All things identified But times once torn away No voices can recall The eve of New Year's Day Left the Old Year lost to all