I have never seen that poem before, but it is very beautiful. As I was reading "For oft, when on my couch I lie," I was thinking about how when I am at home and in a place that seems mundane and ordinary to me, if I think about a "host of golden daffodils" I am remembering some wonderful memory that has given me joy. The beauty that exists in the world. If my world seems mundane it is only my perception of it. I can have beauty while on my couch or in my heart or in my world. Beauty exists wherever I choose to plant it.The daffodils are a reminder of that. And I agree with Elvis; that Al-Anon and my Al-Anon friends showed me that I can have that reminder.

Thank you Lovely and Talented ((((Maria))) for the lovely poem.

Mucho Amor, SenoraBob

(((((((((((((((((MyDavid, MySenora, MyPeeWee)))))))))))))))))))))),

Thank you so much for taking your precious time and responding to my post. It is soooo very interesting to me to see other's perspectives.

Here's my take ~ the paper I just submitted tonite (whew) for 40% of my grade. Whaddya think?

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Nature Restores Life's Meaning

In William Wordsworth's lyric poem, "I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud," the speaker has temporarily lost their way in life. They are wandering aimlessly, lonely as the poem begins. The poem demonstrates how life has lost meaning and purpose, but partnered with a higher power, inner peace can be restored.

Line 2 "That floats on high o'er vales and hills," is a metaphor for life's trials and tribulations. One's journey in life is an evolution of walking through the valley of darkness and climbing arduous hills. When one's world seems lonely, the minutes are long, the hours longer and the days seem interminable.

Almost instantly, however, the reader anticipates a tone of promise in lines 3 and 4 "when all at once I saw a crowd, / A host, of golden daffodils." There is an immediate shift from despair to hope. The speaker crests a hill after that long, arduous, lonely climb to come upon a crowd. The allusion of the "host" defined as "the bread or wafer consecrated in the celebration of the Eucharist" among a crowd is symbolic of the presence of Jesus Christ in body and in spirit. Many scriptures from the Bible have Jesus often surrounded by people.

Lines 5 and 6 illustrate Jesus' presence interspersed through nature. The use of the word "stars" in line 7 is significant because of the biblical symbolism associated with star. The brightly-lit, shining star led the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem to see Baby Jesus, the chosen one born to save the world. In addition, the star is symbolic of a higher power's inner presence that burns brightly and lives within us when life is good and that dulls when life presents challenges.

Omnipresence -- present everywhere at the same time, usually divine -- sums up "Ten thousand saw I at a glance” (11). The allusion is that Jesus' presence is all-encompassing. “Tossing their heads in sprightly dance” (12) symbolizes Jesus' calm, accepting demeanor throughout His young life including His persecution and ultimate crucifixion on the Cross.

"The waves beside them danced: but they / Out-did the sparkling waves in glee" (13- 14). The strength of the waves versus the tenacity of the daffodils parallels the followers of Judas Iscariot versus Jesus' perseverance to carry His mission to continue His ministry of love.

The use of the words "twinkle" from line 8 and “sparkling” from line 14 have an onomatopoetic effect. This adds another dimension to the bouquet of imagery and meaning in this poem.

Up to this point, the poetry is full of euphony: Floats, fluttering, dancing, sprightly, for example. "Jocund" -- cheerful; merry; gay; blithe -- is a cacophonous word that is used in line 16. It forces the reader to literally pause and contemplate on the harsh sound, and its purpose is to slow the poem to prepare for the final crescendo.

The repetition in the line "I gazed – and gazed – but little thought" (17) is effective as it has the reader linger and reflect on the literal diction and visual imagery likened to wistful daydreaming. It is also very useful leading into the final thought of remembrance "What wealth the show to me had brought:" (18). Though the literal word "wealth" is abstract in and of itself, the meaning conveyed in this poem is that the speaker has had a spiritual awakening. Line 18 is the culmination of this journey.

The final stanza is one of reflection upon that day where the speaker can now reflect on that experience for a lifetime and remember that epiphany. The meaning and reflection has a striking resemblance to the New American Bible, Ps. 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.

The literary term "oft" intrigues the reader "For oft, when on my couch I lie (19). Wordsworth uses the word order in line 19 to foreshadow the final stanza. The "inward eye" (21) is the final imagery that supports that the speaker has experienced a spiritual awakening through images, feelings, and senses.

In conclusion, I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud is symbolic of a delicate balance of the conscious and the unconscious leading to the experience of wholeness and enlightenment. The rich imagery in this poem lends itself to the realization that succumbing to a higher power, rather than self will, will restore one's balance and serenity.