I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

William Wordsworth 1770 (Wordsworth House) – 1850 (Cumberland)



I wandered 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 stretched 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.

About this poem

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is a lyric poem by William Wordsworth. The poem describes the poet's experience of encountering a field of daffodils while taking a walk in the countryside. The sight of the beautiful and vibrant flowers, dancing in the breeze, brings joy and a sense of transcendence to the poet's lonely heart. The poem explores the power of nature to uplift the human spirit and highlights the significance of simple moments of natural beauty in our lives. It is often celebrated for its vivid imagery, rhythmic flow, and its exploration of the themes of nature, memory, and the imagination. 

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified by acronimous on June 21, 2023

51 sec read
346,569

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCC DEDEFF EGEGHH IJIJBB
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 819
Words 170
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth was the husband of Eva Bartok. more…

All William Wordsworth poems | William Wordsworth Books

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