Wordsworth's "Daffodils"- what lies behind the world's most famous poem?
"I wandered lonely as a cloud"- Wordsworth's "Daffodils" poem.
William Wordsworth's poem, Daffodils, was written just half a mile from my home.
Often known by its first line "I wandered lonely as a Cloud" the poem Daffodils has been learnt by children for generations. Many only know the first verse of Daffodils, but the whole poem is beautiful and evocative. I live in a house owned by Wordsworth, just half a mile from Dove Cottage Grasmere where Wordsworth wrote this wonderful peom, so I feel a particular bond with "Daffodils" which I'd like to share with you.
Daffodils are a sign of hope that the winter is over and summer is coming.
The poem, Daffodils was composed in 1804, two years after Wordsworth saw the flowers while walking by Ullswater on a stormy day with Dorothy, his sister. Wordsworth's inspiration for the poem came from an account of the daffodils on Ullswater written by Dorothy.
Dorothy Wordsworth in her journal entry for 15 April 1802 describes how the daffodils 'tossed and reeled and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind, that blew upon them over the lake.' Wordsworth published his poem, " I wandered lonely as a Cloud,", Daffodils, in 1807.
Wordsworth later altered the poem Daffodils, and his second version, published in 1815, is the one widely known today.
The daffodils that William and Dorothy saw were the small, wild daffodils that grow in many places in the Lake District. There are lots of places where you can still see these beautiful little flowers- in fact I'm lucky enough to have a mass of little wild daffodils in my garden at White Moss House Grasmere.
Daffodils have become the symbol of the Lake District. In spring daffodils are found everywhere. Many daffodils have been planted on verges and roadsides for visitors to enjoy. There are many different varieties of daffodils to see. Visitors flock to Lake District at Easter to see the daffodils.
Let's look at Wordsworth's poem, and then see where we can look at the daffodils.
All photos are my own, or David Willis at Cumbria Tourism, and courtesy of flickr They are not for reuse. though you are very welcome to pin them on Pinterest.
Daffodils, by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud.....
"DAFFODILS" 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 a 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.
Do you feel inspired by Daffodils to read more William Wordsworth? - Should everyone have a book of William Wordsworth's Poetry?
The poems of William Wordsworth, including Daffodils.
Treat yourself to this book, and take time to browse at leisure through Wordsworth's Daffodils and other poems.
This excellent book can be bought now, from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
UK readers can click through this link
The Major Works: Including The Prelude (Oxford World's Classics) to buy from Amazon.co.uk
Just about the best and most comprehensive book of Wordsworth's poetry, including Daffodils.
Wordsworth wrote Daffodils at Dove Cottage Grasmere
Dove Cottage Grasmere is where Wordsworth wrote Daffodils. Their website is a great resource of information about all things Wordsworth.
There is news about all their exhibitions and events as well.
Wordsworth's Lake District is also a good source of information on Wordsworth, his homes, and the area he lived in.It is all my own work- I live half a mile from Dove Cottage.
You can stay for a holiday or vacation in another Lake District cottage, but with modern facilities just half a mile up on the hillside from Dove Cottage . It's called Brockstone Grasmere Holiday Cottage . We own and rent his lovely cottage.
Here are more pages that I've written about my Lake District home
William Wordsworth's Daffodils
William Wordsworth's poem, Daffodils, was written just half a mile from my home. Often known by its first line "I wandered lonely as a Cloud" the p...
Wordsworth's Lake District.
I live in a house owned by William Wordsworth, close to Dove Cottage Grasmere where Wordsworth wrote his most famous poems, including "Daffodils" ....
My home, White Moss House, and our rental cottage, Brockstone, are in the heart of daffodil country. - White Moss House, owned by William Wordsworth, is in the
This is the Lake District, home of Wordsworth, famous for it's spring daffodils.You can stay at our wonderful rental cottage, Brockstone. The links are on this page.
Want to know more about William Wordsworth after reading Daffodils? - Here are some books that would make good Christmas gifts.
I've chosen a variety of books including poems and biographies.
The biographies of both William and Dorothy are well written and easy to read.
I've also suggested Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal- it's a fascinating insight about William Wordsworth, and their friends, including Coleridge and De Quincy.- so down to earth.
Dorothy's journal is fascinating.
The everyday life of the great poet, as chronicled by his sister. Fascinating.
Let's get back to William Wordsworth's poem, Daffodils.
My favourite verse is the last verse.
Many people only know the first verse of the poem, but the last is my favourite-
"When oft upon my couch I lie,
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye,which is the Bliss of Solitude....."
I love the expression, "Bliss of Solitude. "
Buy your daffodils from ebay . - Be inspired by daffodils!
There are lots of daffodils on ebay right now. Time to plant your daffodils bulbs.
Walk round Rydal Water and go past Wordsworth's home, Rydal Mount
Rydal Water Walk.
This walk round the lovely lake of Rydal Water, in England's Lake District, takes most people about 2 hours. It takes in some of the most beautiful scenery i...
Find out about the local Lake District sheep, the unique Herdwicks
Herdwick sheep , the Lake District sheep.
Herdwick sheep are the sheep of Cumbria, in the Northwest corner of England. The Lake District is the most famous part of Cumbria, loved by visitors for its ...
For more information about Daffodils and William Wordsworth , here are some useful links. - Wordsworth and daffodils
Here are more links to sites that wil tell you more about the Wordsworths and Daffodils.
- Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum
Dove Cottage Grasmere is where Wordsworth wrote Daffodils. The comprehensice Dove Cottage website tells you all about William Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth, Daffodils, and much more. This is a great resource for Wordsworth fans. - Wikipedia on Daffodils
See what Wiki has to say about Daffodils. - Rydal Mount, where Wordsworth lived in his later years
The lovely Rydal Mount was a step up from the humble Dove Cottage. Wordsworth lived his later life here, and died here. - Great books about the Lake District for your Kindle.
Here's a selection of ebooks that you can download to your Kindle. My choice of the best Kindle books for you.
Analysis of the poem, "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth - !I wandered lonely as a cloud" , Wiiliam Wordsworth
We can read a poem such as Wordsworth's "Daffodils" and simply enjoy it, bit, as we remember from school, sometime it's good to hear what other think and discuss the poem.
HJere are some good link to read analaysis of "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth
Some useful articles about the poem.
- Daffodils on Buzzle
I like this article on Buzzle from Vaishale Satwase - Daffodils by Wordsworth analysed by Spark notes
Spark notes can always be relied on for careful reviews. Here is the Spark note analysis of "I wandered lonely as a cloud" by Wordsworth.
Is the Wordsworth Daffodil under threat?
It has been suggested that this beautiful little flower is under threat from more modern varieties.
The Wordsworth Daffodil is the species "narcissus pseudonarcissus".
Here is an article from The Daily Telepgraph 2002 which spelled out the threat to this native variety.
In 2013, there is still this concern- we must be vigilant!
The Friends of Grasmere Daffodil Garden
In the middle of Wordsworth's home village of Grasmere, a peaceful memorial garden
The Friends of Grasmere founded this lovely little garden in Grasmere, where people who want to leave a memory of themselves or a friend can sponsor planting daffodils.
It is a charity, and the money raised supports local causes.
It's a lovely idea, that may interest you.
Daffodils everywhere- I hope you enjoyed you visit. - Please leave a message. If you know of any great sites for daffodils please let me know.
Daffodils are a treasure in the early Spring. I love reading poetry by Wordworth. Thank you for this lens
- AUTHOR
@GeorgeneMBramlage: Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I know, I'm very lucky- I must not take my home environment for granted.
To me, daffodils mean springtime. When I lived in colder climes, I always looked for the first little green noses of the daffodil plant sticking up through the snow. Then, along about now, we'd begin to see the buds ascending on their spikes and not long after the big yellow cups and saucers. My mom loved this poem and quoted it every spring, passing along the lilting joy of it to all her children. Thank you for sharing this page. How fascinating it must be to live and work in the home where Wordsworth and his family played and worked and cooked and ate and gazed on daffodils in the vase.
Did you receive the comment I posted on March 1?
"Daffodils are a sign of hope that the winter is over and summer is coming." This phrase taken from your introduction beckons the sort of thoughts I think whenever I see daffodils coming up, in bud and definitely in bloom. I do envy you living in such an enchanted area of the UK...but what a personal bonus to realize that a fellow Squidoo lens master is sharing her environment with us.
Very interesting and beautiful! Thank you for sharing...we hope to visit your area some day.
Fabulous. I visit the Lakes every year though I've never been in Spring.
you can't beat the lake district
I still have all my college poetry books, which contain lots of Wordsworth, whose poetry I really came to love.
I really enjoyed reading this lens! :)
Beautiful. My daughter has a t-shirt with "I wandered lonely as a cloud" printed on it. :)
I've come back to bless this lovely lens. You've put so much information in this lens, with wonderful pictures...I learnt a lot here, and had a lovely break from my work!
What a beautiful poem and a great poet. Thank you for this powerful lens.
wordworth was my favorite poet at high school. his poem about the daffodils was like an earworm ringing in my ears. i love this poem and knew it by heart (years ago).
angelblessings.
very beautiful lens with great poem.
Thank you for sharing the poem. First time I've read it, and I agree about the "Bliss of Solitude". Wonderful line and one that I've unwittingly partaken in myself :).
I just don't know why you don't have a purple star for this...it is a brilliant lens. I came to it because I am doing a daffodil miscellany lens and looked your lens up. Of course I have put 'the' poem in, but have put a link to your lens for anything else Wordsworthian.
Wonderful. I totally agree with you about the power of the last verse. Thank you.
I'm very fond of this particular Wordsworth poem. It must be great to live amongst these amazing historical homes and landmarks. Thanks for sharing.
Such beauty and tranquility in these pictures and words. ~Blessed~
What a beautiful tribute to Wordsworth's "Daffodils"! Heartily blessed by a Squid Angel! :)
When I first read "Daffodils" I was 16 years old and I was already familiar with Wordsworth's poetry. "Lucy" was the first poem of his I read.
I loved this lens as much as I loved Wordsworth's poetry.
Beautiful!
I do enjoy a good flower article, enjoyed this! *blessed!*
Great pics! Lovely! Blessed!
Wonderful lens!!!
Ah, Father Tim of the Mitford Series loves Wordsworth. I need to find more time to read poetry...
Nice lens!
Beautiful lens with lovely pictures, I like pictures most.
This lens is pure poetry!
Love this lens. Blessed.
Great lens. I love Wordsworth's poetry.
Love this lens...thanks for sharing. Blessed
Well, That was an awesome lens and so much to learn about DaffodilS.. yeah i did enjoyed very much reading ... Thanks foe sharing.
Nice lens
I learnt this poem first when i was in junior school and found it really full of life. Thanks for sharing it here and hey simply love the pics.
I love this poem!! : )
The daffodil photos are lovely and inspiring ... love The Wordsworth Rose ...
The Lake District and daffodils - 2 of my favourite things! Nice photos too.
Oh for a field of daffodils! Thank you for the lovely respite of this lens. I'm feeling a new spring in my step. :-) To the bliss of solitude!
I certainly did! A beautiful lens and a place I would love to visit again. I live way down south at present, but can see how it must be so inspiring for poetry.
"Bliss of Solitude", yup, my favorite too! When I saw your lens title, I felt fresh air and swooshed right over to lay in field of daffodils and smile, this has always been a favorite and what wonderful morning refreshement.
My favorite poem of all times in English language. Thank you for the beautiful lens and images about it!! :)
What a wonderful lens on Daffodils.They are such a happy yellow bulb that they do inspire poetry.
Awesome lens,beautiful poem! Blessed by a Squidoo Angel on 12/14/2010. Have a great day!
I love daffodils too. They also grow wild all over west Cornwall, they are a wonderful sight. Lovely lens.
What a beautiful lens. Many thanks.
Beautiful! With the days getting shorter and the weather getting worse, I needed some of these cheerful daffs to brighten my day!
Love Wordsworth's poetry... and your pictures bring the "daffodil" poem even more alive.
- AUTHOR
@RebeccaE: Thank you for your visit and comments.
- AUTHOR
@LisaMarieGabriel: Thank you so much - the blessing is greatly appreciated.
oh what a lovely poem, I wasn't exposed to this in school, but I am overjoyed to read, it, certainly lovely!
I had to learn that poem when I was 10 years old - it was a forlorn effort, but it is beautiful and so is the lens. The photos here are lovely! Blessed by an angel today :)
- AUTHOR
White Moss is my house, which we run as a guest house, and also the area between Rydal and Grasmere. We don't have a shop, so I guess you got the paper at Dove Cottage. Glad you like the place!
Looking at the pictures I believe I visited White Moss house not Dove Cottage. Hey, is White Moss your namesake?
Bought daffodil paper at the little cottage to fold. It made some beautiful cards. This is the first time I read the poem. It is charming.
- AUTHOR
@SusannaDuffy: Thank you all for your visits, and thanks you susanna for the blessing.
That poem always fascinated me in school - a hymn to an exotic flower in an exotic place and I had chills down my back listening to Jeremy Irons just now. Beautiful flower, beautiful Grasmere, beautiful lens. Blessed by an angel today
OMG you live in Wordsworth's house!!! Amazing! Wonderful poet and wonderful lens. 5 stars!
Another beautiful lens featuring Wordsworth and the beautiful Lake District. The Daffodil is such a beautiful springtime flower.
Fantastic lens. Loved the poem and all the excellent pictures.
- AUTHOR
@Ram Ramakrishnan: Thanks you for your poem! I'm off to see your lenses!
- AUTHOR
@KarenTBTEN: Mending wall is also one of my favourite poems. We have dry stone walls here and it hits a chord in many ways.
With an exhilarating certainty I can say;
It is this poem that always lights my way.
Shapes; nurtures; my writing style it fills,
With the elegance and beauty of the daffodils.
Wonderful lens! Lensrolled to "Verse-a-tales" and "Conjugal Conspiracy".
Very nice how you connected the poem with the actual place. The daffodils are blooming now in Seattle... but I'm lensrolling this to "Robert Frost's 'Mending Wall' ".
- AUTHOR
@Parleo: Thank you- I might make it an Amazon Spotlight suggestion- you're right- its very comprehensive
I am a huge Wordsworth fan and can totally recommend the first book on your Amazon list below. Its hundred's of pages thick and worth every penny.
OH!!!!! The photos you have here are amazing! I would dearly LOVE to see one of those fields of daffodils myself, sit and breathe in their beauty and fragrance, and of course run the battery down on my camera :) I LOVE this lens!
- AUTHOR
@ulla_hennig: Thanks Ulla for your visit.
- AUTHOR
@Sylvestermouse: Thank you Cynthia- so glad you think it's worth a blessing- glad youe njoyed it.
Well, yes I did enjoy my visit as just thinking of daffodils brings a huge smile to my being.
How cool to know the real story behind the poem!
I love this poem written by Wordworth, and your pictures are beautiful. And I also love the expression "bliss of solitude" - Just sit there and look at the sky, feel the sun on your face and listen to the birds.
I believe you wrote this lens for me :) I know, everyone who loves Wordsworth will feel that way when they stop by. Angel Blessed and added to my Squid Angel Mouse Tracks
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