Daffodils - William Wordsworth

I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.


It had to happen one day, that this poem would make an appearance on my blog. My mom would understand why. I was forced to memorize the entire thing at school when I was something like 13 years old. I'm really glad though.

I have since made my own variations to this poem, combined with poetry from "The Scarlet Pimpernel". My variation had little to do with daffodils, but had a way of proclaiming it in a very Wordsworth-like manner (I think so anyway, even though I have not yet heard any recordings of Wordsworth reading any of his poems).

The only line I've always remembered from this poem is: "For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood". I like the pensive moods when these memories of my poetry sessions flash upon my inward eye. The meditation still continues in my life, only to be interrupted by Sonia or Joshua or both, which is the bliss of solitude

"MY heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety."

Yes - The Child is father of the Man (year old)

Looking forward for a chance to hang out with the man and write ridiculous poetry. We are the same people though and it's good to know that I'll have the opportunity to watch him go through life. I'm so proud of him as I watch him grow.

THAT my heart with pleasure fills...