"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
by William Wordsworth
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.
I personally enjoy this poem a lot, it provides amazing imagery and description. The natural scene set by the author is meant to impose the joy that he felt when he first saw the scene, which I would say it does effectively. Much like the daffodils blowing in the wind, the poem is very flowing and melodic. It upholds an ABABCC rhyme scheme. In my opinion, this rhyming puts the reader in a mindset where they are more receptive to this natural imagery.
ReplyDeleteJack Drake
DeleteIn this poem it describes the view a cloud would see. It describes golden daffodils, twinkling stars, and sparkling waves and the poet imagines "What wealth the show to me had brought". With the last stanza of the poem, he talks about how when he is alone he sees these images and it is the "bliss of solitude". The poet seems to like nature, especially daffodils and stars and would rather spend his time enjoying the outdoors than be inside on a couch.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that he is wandering as lonely as a cloud is interesting because lonely has more negative connotations while the poet really seems to enjoy viewing nature. But it seems that he is often lying on his couch and can only imagine the images of nature so he is like a cloud who can only see the beauty of the world from above but cannot interact with it.
The poem reminds me of a memory which becomes so dear to us that it is almost as if we dreamed it up in our sleep. We know it exists, the events took place and linger still within our past, but because in that moment we found such perfect bliss we struggle to comprehend such in times of normalcy. Yet, in a way, since the memory takes on a dream like air the experience is only that much more enriched and urges us on in the general slog of life to find that moment once more. Our whole lives center around a purpose to be happy, to enjoy what the world has to offer and prosper how we dream ourselves to do. Rarely do we find that such plans are fulfilled to the T, and we must learn to adapt to the rage of life. But once in a while, we will find those dreams have come to be a reality. Once in a while, the world will pause, reorder itself, and begin to revolve around us as everything begins to feel right. Once in a while, we will find our daffodil moment that reignites the light of motivation we thought had been lost to us long ago.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of solitude as a good thing in this poem. Yes, people are great, but you can run into trouble when you can't access happiness on your own. I know it may sound cliche but Beauty is everywhere. I like the idea of using clouds as a universal, yet personal source of joy. They are one of the many things that acts as such, others being sunshine, parks, and music. This poem reminds me of a song by Bedouine called Solitary Daughter, where she also finds happiness by herself with the help of nature. She sings :
ReplyDeleteI play with the moon
My only friend
It pushes it pulls me
I don't pay rent
I don't need the walls
To bury my grave
I don't need your company
To feel saved
I don't need the sunlight
My curtains don't draw
I don't need objects
To keep or to pawn
I don't want your pity
Concern or your scorn
I'm calm by my lonesome
I feel right at home
I love this poem. The imagery is great, and I can see the sea of daffodils before me. The description paints such a bright and iridescent picture. Wordsworth uses personification to describe these flowers, and it really helps with the vividness of the imagery. I want to visit this spot he describes, and I can tell he does too. I think his poem is very simple but heartfelt and I really enjoyed it. I think any audience can really enjoy this, and I could imagine being read this poem when I was really little and just being happy with the simplicity and lightness. I just really like the idea of this untouched spot of nature, with a field of beautiful, bright daffodils and a glittering pond right next to it. Wordsworth really has a way with imagery.
ReplyDeleteThis poem teaches the reader to value seeing the beauty in nature. Wordsworth tells the story of the daffodils through his lonesome journey, how they flutter and dance by the lake and outdid the sparkling waves in glee. By personifying the daffodils, he is able to bring out their beauty for the world to see. He describes himself on the couch at the end of the poem to represent a scenario in which the beauty of nature is not in sight, but he shows that his solitude in nature brought pleasure to his heart, allowing him to still be connected to nature and therefore, not lonely.
ReplyDeleteThis poem was very peaceful and relaxing. It has beautiful imagery and paints a perfect picture in the reader's mind. I especially liked the second stanza where he was talking about the stars and how he personified them and made them dance in the milky way. It is interesting how the poet was able to take such a simple story of him going on a walk and seeing so many scenes, and transform it into a beautiful poem where the reader is transported to each scene that he describes. I didn't notice the rhyming when I first read it but the second time I did and it gave me a greater appreciation for the poem. I like how he ties in nature and memory with such simple eloquence, and throughout the poem he creates a sense of connectedness between nature and humankind.
ReplyDeleteI really like this poem because it is calming and simple to read. The scene that Woodsworth describes is peaceful and serene, which is why I like the poem. I was able to feel the way Woodsworth did, just through reading his poem. I also think that the rhyme scheme of AB AB CC makes the poem flow better and enjoyable to read. The rhyming gives the poem a lighthearted feel, further adding to the joyous mood of the poem. I like the use of the simile “Continuous as the stars that shine/And twinkle on the milky way,/They stretched in never-ending line/Along the margin of a bay” because it was very interesting to see flowers be compared to stars in the sky and added another sense of their beauty.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this poem to start my day as it was very soothing, especially after a stressful drive to school. It reminds me of how we are always told to “go to your happy place” if we are stressed. The poet is vividly describing a place where he clearly feels at ease, as he describes it using strictly soft and happy words. I believe that this is his “happy place” that he imagines when he is stressed and needs to take a short break from reality. I am intrigued by the poet’s ability to describe this place so well. He is able to make the reader feel as he does when imagining this place, which is difficult to do.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this poem, I interpreted the clouds as being William Wordsworth's thoughts. When Wordsworth daydreams, he thinks of one thought and from that one thought, he sees many other clouds(thoughts). The line "For oft, when on my couch I lie
ReplyDeleteIn vacant or in pensive mood" helped me reach this conclusion. Only when one has nothing on their mind and has nothing to do, only then do they daydream, jumping from one thought to the next. This is exactly, how Wordsworth is feeling.
I really enjoyed this poem because it has a very calm tone with lots of imagery. Many of the phrases and words in this poem helped me picture the daffodils in grave detail. Some of these phrases being, “fluttering and dancing in the breeze”, “sprightly dance”, and “dances with daffodils”. These all brought me a picture of an island I go with my family to in Maine, because it has fields and fields of flowers and so many beautiful spots I go to. This island is a place where I always feel calm, spending time with family and spending time exploring it. Having the ability to connect this poem with Maine helped me see the tone that this poem was expressing because I have my own field of sunflowers that the cloud has. Although the cloud was described as being “lonely” in the beginning, we see this shift throughout the poem as it watches nature, these daffodils “dance”, and all of nature below.
ReplyDeleteThe poet seems to allude to the power of solitude. When wondering on his own he is able to appreciate the simple yet meaningful things in his life. Because he navigates his life as a cloud, solo and observant, he is able to enjoy the daffodils and see the whole picture of the world around him. The poet does not fear for solitude, but rather longs for it, for he believes it makes him better. However, later the poet says that these beautiful images "flash upon the inward eye" suggesting that they are not present outside on his plan of view, but rather residing within himself, only visible when he is mind is clear enough to see them.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting point of view the one offered by the poet, writers often say that their creativity sparks out of loneliness, Wordsworth however, seems to genuinely believe in the “bliss of solitude”, and in it’s capability to convey the imagery within his own self. Rather than obtaining his inspirations from the outside world, he opts to look inward, finding comfort within his voluntary isolation.
The poem begins by describing a beautiful nature scene, setting up a calm and serene mood. It reminds one of the idyllic opening scene from "The Sound of Music", where Julia Andrews is running through the grassy hills singing about life. When thinking on such a beautiful place, it is hard not to be filled with a sense of peace and calm, and maybe even joy. The poem then transitions in the middle of the third stanza, turning to the experience of the narrator in this world. The focus is now on the effect that the earlier nature has on his mood, filling him with pleasure even when "on my couch [he] lie / in vacant or in pensive mood". It emphasizes the ability of the inner thought when combined with such a powerful scene, as it drastically changes his mood. I like how beautiful this poem is - it manages to convey the beautiful scene being described in such a way that the poem itself almost seems to contain the essence of a field of daffodils, fluttering in the breeze.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of this poem is very positive. It sounds happy and soothing to the ear, and from this I can tell that the writer is at peace. A rhyme scheme exists, but it is not perfectly adhered to, which adds to the carefree mood of the poem. The writer is fascinated by daffodils as he is “wandering lonely as a cloud,” and while the title may reference clouds, most of the poem is about these flowers. The writer says “A poet could not but be gay, / In such jocund company,” meaning that among the flowers, he felt happy, and given the reference to being a poet, he felt that he could write a good poem about the daffodils (which he did). Overall, I liked this poem, and wish I could have the writer’s appreciation for such little things as flowers among a busy life.
ReplyDeleteThis poem was written very gracefully. It really highlights the beauty and calmness in nature that can bring a sense of peace to oneself as nothing else can. I think it's interesting how he starts off as being a lonely cloud and then at the end of the poem he ends describing being in a "vacant or in pensive mood", which I can only assume is also lonely. The rhythm of the poem is also well done, like how the lines are each about the same length and it has a subtle rhyming scheme. Overall, I really enjoyed this poem because it is written in a gentle and calm way, while being able to convey a message effectively.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that struck me about this poem is the rhyming structure. It gives the poem a child-like wonder which enforces these characteristics in the message presented. I think this poem has great imagery as I found myself among the field of daffodils looking up at a bright blue sky dotted with whimsical clouds. This vivid imagery continues for the description of the other scenes to compare the cloud and daffodils to trees or stars or waves. I connect with this poem in its message of the importance of solitude and reflection. This is a concept I wrote my college essay about and find very important in the continuation of my life as I’m sure it is for many people. The combination of the vivid imagery and relatability of the message makes this poem very personal for me.
ReplyDelete"I wandered lonely as a cloud" by William Wordsworth is a very calm and happy poem. It explores the relationship between nature and humanity, and even though he introduces loneliness in the first line he is not at all lonely and is in the presence of nature, "A host, of golden daffodils, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze." This really portrays the togetherness of us and nature with the use of his personification. The imagery that he utilizes makes it much more enjoyable to read, being able to easily picture the beautiful scene. I also like the use of his ABABCC rhyme scheme for every stanza, I think it ties the whole poem together.
ReplyDeleteI felt this poem was extremely easy to read due to its simplistic sentence structure even if it used some words I had never heard of. The poem is centered around a lonely cloud that is just floating from place to place and describing the things that it sees and the thoughts that its having. The poem is so vague that I feel like when put open to interpretation it could mean a variety of things for each individual person. Me individually it conveys the message that despite the cloud being alone with his/her thoughts they can still enjoy the beauty around them. It conveys a message to me that despite being alone not with any materialistic thing pure happiness is still achievable. It kinda made me feel like the child who was just experiencing pure happiness. A child that doesn't know about the turmoil of the world or the problems that face people nowadays - just pure simple happines.
ReplyDeleteThe overall feeling of the poem is very playful and light hearted, makes me want to lay in the bed of daffodils and soak in the bright yellow color and the warm sun. I love the last stanza when he is describing him being on the couch, and that in itself should be a relaxing experience, but its only when he thinks back to the flowers is he brought with a true sense of bliss. I also love how he personifies the poem and makes them seem just as interested in their environment as he is. He continues to personify them in the words that he is using, instead of saying he sees ten thousand daffodils, he says "Ten thousand saw I at a glance", as if they were seeking him out as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is like one of those moments where nothing else matters. In life, things feel like they're moving so quickly and it can be really overwhelming - every once in a while we have these times when it all stops and we are able to slow down and just be mindful. This powerful feeling is also something I feel like I search for. Being mindful and present is such a difficult thing to do - but when you can actually achieve it, its an eye opening experience. His rhyme scheme and word choice amplifies this state of being and really pulls the reader into the piece. It is very freeing. I like how he starts with something more specific and then makes it into a bigger picture. This makes a lot of sense to me, being present in such a small moment allows you to open up to a bigger picture, without feeling that overwhelming rush of the world. Overall, it really just exemplifies pure bliss and truly appreciating "the little things"
ReplyDeleteThis poem to me speaks to someone who is found often alone, and maybe feels underappreciated. As I read I imagine an individual who has a quite demeanor and is very aware and observational of their surroundings. When the daffodils are described, I see them as a symbolism of hope and happiness, I see that add fun and joy to the hum drum path that the narrator is on. In the second stanza the narrators description of them emulate a warmth and comfort, as if to welcome you. There is also a slight edge with the description of them as there is a talk about how attractive they dance, and that even the waves to to compete with them, but they can not be out shined.In the end I am brought to recap on my earlier statement of a lonesome individual, as they describe their dreary moods, but the the thing that brings them ease is the blissfulness of the daffodils.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth, a lonesome individual is described. The fact that this person is alone, isn’t brought about in a negative manner. The author uses a cloud to represent himself and the cloud floats on observing various plants and nature scenes. I liked this poem because a lot of the time people think being alone is something to look down upon someone for, but sometimes solitude is needed. The last line of the poem is, “And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.” This is how the author feels after being alone in his own thoughts. I can relate to this poem in a way because I used to want to always be doing something and did not want to just be on my own. I now like to have time without friends and do my own things and find my own interests. It can be very rewarding to be on your own.
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