I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud (1807)
I wandered1 lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er2 vales3 and hills4,
When all at once5 I saw a crowd6,
A host7, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath8 the trees,
Fluttering9 and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle10 on the Milky Way11,
They stretched12 in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay13:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance14,
Tossing15 their heads in sprightly16 dance.
The waves beside17 them danced; but they
Out-did18 the sparkling19 waves in glee20:
A poet could not but be gay21,
In such a jocund22 company:
1 to wander /’wondər/ – a. (literally) stroll, roam,
ramble; b. (metaphorically) be purposeless and
directionless in general
2 o’er /ouər/ – (poetic) over
3 vale – (poetic) valley
4 hill – small mountain
5 all at once – suddenly, unexpectedly
6 crowd – multitude. A ‘crowd’ refers to a large
group of people, so this is personification.
7 host – (in this case) multitude. The use of the
word ‘host’ probably implies ‘heavenly host’, i.e.
Wordsworth may be comparing the daffodils to
angels and/or the stars (cf. Milky Way in the
second verse).
8 beneath – underneath, under
9 to flutter – move like a butterfly that is flying
10 to twinkle – glitter, shine intermittently
11 the Milky Way – the band of light across the night
sky corresponding to our galaxy
12 to stretch – extend, continue
13 bay – inlet, cove
14 at a glance – in an instant
15 to toss sth. – move sth. about
16 sprightly – happy, merry. However, the use of this
specific word alludes to sprites (= fairies, elves)
and so introduces the idea of the supernatural in
folklore
17 beside – next to
18 to outdo (-do/-did/-done) – surpass, eclipse
19 sparkling – glittering, iridescent
20 glee – delight, happiness
21 gay – (in this case) happy, joyous
22 jocund – (poetic) happy, exuberant
I gazed23 – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth24 the show to me had brought:
For oft25, when on my couch26 I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood27,
They flash upon that inward eye28
Which is the bliss of solitude29;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
You can listen to the poem at:
http://goo.gl/cMdhe
23 to gaze – look fixedly (mesmerized)
24 wealth – riches, (in this case) benefit
25 oft – (poetic) often, frequently
26 couch – sofa
27 mood – frame of mind, emotional state
28 that inward eye – one’s memory/imagination
29 the bliss of solitude – the great pleasure of being
alone with one’s thoughts