I'm finding John Clare quite interesting. Generally, I am using the PG volume as it is divided into three chronological sections. But that collection does not allow one to quickly go to a specific poem. It's necessary to leaf through the pages, bookmarking the entries one likes. Therefore, I am supplementing this with the Delphi collection which permits quick access.
I have looked through the Early poems and I find Clare is at his best in the shorter lyrics. The longer poems {IMO} tend to lack pace and I often find my interest flagging. Though even here there are moments of strength.
Consider "What Is Life?" Many of the image sequences he uses are quite telling. For instance, "Vain Hopes" is described as "A cobweb hiding disappointment's thorn". But it is necessary to look for moments like this and the entire poem does not measure up to its best lines. I felt this to be the case with all of the longer poems--even the vivid description of "The Gipsy's Camp".
Among the lyrics I enjoyed were the following:
"Song" is a delightful little lyric with a marvellous humorous change in tone when "Nelly lightly skipt the stile"
"To Anna Three Years Old" vividly describes the active curiosity of a toddler--though the final moral at the end is a bit of a truism.
"The Ants" creates a sense of wonder through the use of nicely chosen specific details of the activities of these little insects.Clare concludes that "they be/Deformed remnants of the Fairy-days."
I am looking forward to his later poetry!