John Clare's "The Badger"

For me a good poem means a fine day, and if you have not read it, please believe, "The Badger" is memorable. A short, vivid description of a badger baiting, and the courage shown by the animal.

"When badgers fight then everyone's a foe.
The dogs are clapt, and urged to join the fray;
The badger turns and drives them all away.
Though scarcely half as big, demure and small
He fights with dogs for bones and beats them all."

I was not at all familiar with Clare's work, but aware that I should be, as he is so widely renowned. I recently found a paperback collection of his poems in a charity shop. It is the one edited by Dr. Costas Xenophontos, founder and Director of Plato's International Philosophical Association (what is that?) and published in 1966. Minimally designed, and red and cream in colour, for some reason it jumped at me from the shelves. I am glad it did, for that poem alone, but there are many others which please.