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.
by William Wordsworth, 1770 – 1850
What springtime poems are you memorizing at your house?
This is one of my favorite poems ever. I recently printed it out to read to my kids. I have strong memories of daffodils of spring when I lived in England as a child. 🙂
So sweet, Nicola! This is one of my favorites also, and I just love daffodils. Do you know the song, “Bells of Norwich”? I’m working on learning it and I just love the line “Love, like the yellow daffodil, is coming through the snow;” the chorus is “Ring out, bells of Norwich and let the winter come and go. All shall be well again, I know.”
Jean, The song title sounds familiar, but, no, I don’t know it. I will have to look it up!
This is my daughter Charlotte’s favorite poem! She memorized it when she was about twelve and still recites it for us every spring.
Love that, Leslie. These poems stay with us. And this is a great one for those upper elementary/middle school years and a great one to memorize!