'To The Same Flower (second poem)' by William Wordsworth


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With little here to do or see
Of things that in the great world be,
Daisy! again I talk to thee,
For thou art worthy,
Thou unassuming Common-place
Of Nature, with that homely face,
And yet with something of a grace,
Which Love makes for thee!

Oft on the dappled turf at ease
I sit, and play with similies,
Loose types of things through all degrees,
Thoughts of thy raising:
And many a fond and idle name
I give to thee, for praise or blame,
As is the humour of the game,
While I am gazing.

A nun demure of lowly port;
Or sprightly maiden, of Love's court,
In thy simplicity the sport
Of all temptations;
A queen in crown of rubies drest;
A starveling in a scanty vest;
Are all, as seems to suit thee best,
Thy appellations.

A little cyclops, with one eye
Staring to threaten and defy,
That thought comes next--and instantly
The freak is over,
The shape will vanish--and behold
A silver shield with boss of gold,
That spreads itself, some faery bold
In fight to cover!

I see thee glittering from afar--
And then thou art a pretty star;
Not quite so fair as many are
In heaven above thee!
Yet like a star, with glittering crest,
Self-poised in air thou seem'st to rest;--
May peace come never to his nest,
Who shall reprove thee!

Bright 'Flower'! for by that name at last,
When all my reveries are past,
I call thee, and to that cleave fast,
Sweet silent creature!
That breath'st with me in sun and air,
Do thou, as thou art wont, repair
My heart with gladness, and a share
Of thy meek nature!

Editor 1 Interpretation

To The Same Flower: A Masterpiece of Romanticism

William Wordsworth is one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, and his poem "To The Same Flower" is a masterpiece of the genre. With its vivid imagery, naturalistic themes, and introspective musings, this poem captures the essence of Romanticism in all its glory. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements that make this poem so powerful and enduring.

Overview and Analysis

"To The Same Flower" is the second poem in a series of three sonnets written by Wordsworth in 1804. The poem is addressed to a small flower that the poet had previously written about in the first sonnet of the series. The flower is described in detail, with its delicate petals and vibrant colors. But beyond its physical attributes, the flower is also imbued with symbolic meaning, representing the beauty and fragility of life itself.

The poem begins with an apostrophe, a rhetorical device in which the speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person or thing. In this case, the speaker is addressing the flower directly, as if it were a living being that could hear and understand his words. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is marked by a sense of intimacy and emotional resonance.

The first stanza describes the beauty of the flower, with its "bright hues" and "golden gleam." The language is rich and sensory, with Wordsworth's use of adjectives and verbs creating a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The second stanza deepens the emotional resonance of the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The flower, with its fleeting beauty, becomes a metaphor for the human experience, reminding us that life is short and precious.

The final stanza is perhaps the most significant, as the speaker directly addresses the flower and implores it to remain beautiful even as it fades and dies. The language here is both tender and urgent, with Wordsworth's use of the imperative form ("Be gay") giving the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy. The poem concludes with a final, melancholy reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and the inevitability of loss.

Themes and Motifs

One of the central themes of "To The Same Flower" is the concept of transience and impermanence. The flower, with its brief life span, is a symbol of all that is fleeting and fragile in our existence. This theme is closely related to the motif of nature, which is a recurring theme in Romantic poetry. Wordsworth was a passionate lover of the natural world, and his poetry often reflects this deep connection to the natural world. In "To The Same Flower," the flower is not just a beautiful object, but a living thing that is deeply connected to the cycles of nature and the rhythms of life.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of memory and remembrance. The speaker addresses the flower directly, as if it were a beloved friend or family member. The flower becomes a symbol of all that is beautiful and precious in life, and the speaker implores it to remain in his memory even as it fades and dies. This theme of memory and remembrance is closely linked to the Romantic concept of the individual self, which is seen as a unique and precious entity that must be preserved and cherished.

Language and Style

One of the most striking features of "To The Same Flower" is its rich, sensory language. Wordsworth was a master of descriptive poetry, and his use of adjectives and verbs in this poem creates a vivid and immersive sensory experience for the reader. The language is also marked by a sense of intimacy and emotional resonance, with the speaker addressing the flower directly and imbuing it with symbolic meaning.

The style of the poem is also notable for its use of repetition and parallelism. Wordsworth uses the same phrase ("To thee, fair flower") at the beginning of each stanza, creating a sense of unity and coherence throughout the poem. The parallel structure of the stanzas also reinforces the theme of transience and impermanence, as each stanza describes a different aspect of the flower's life cycle.

Conclusion

"To The Same Flower" is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of Romanticism in all its glory. With its vivid imagery, naturalistic themes, and introspective musings, this poem stands as a testament to Wordsworth's skill as a poet and his deep connection to the natural world. Whether read as a meditation on the transience of life or as a tribute to the beauty of nature, "To The Same Flower" remains a timeless masterpiece of English literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To The Same Flower: A Masterpiece by William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, is known for his profound love for nature and his ability to capture its essence in his poetry. His poem, "Poetry To The Same Flower" is a beautiful ode to the beauty and fragility of nature. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by Wordsworth.

The poem is a sequel to "To The Same Flower," which was written by Wordsworth's friend, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In this poem, Wordsworth addresses the same flower that Coleridge wrote about, but he takes a different approach. While Coleridge's poem is about the flower's beauty and its fleeting nature, Wordsworth's poem is about the power of poetry to immortalize the beauty of nature.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the flower, saying, "Sweet flower! that peeping from thy russet stem." The use of the word "sweet" immediately sets a tone of admiration and affection for the flower. The speaker then goes on to describe the flower's physical attributes, such as its "purple head" and "green tuft." The use of vivid imagery allows the reader to visualize the flower and appreciate its beauty.

The second stanza is where the poem takes a turn. The speaker acknowledges that the flower's beauty is fleeting, saying, "Fading, dying, all is fled." However, the speaker then goes on to say that the flower's beauty can be immortalized through poetry. The line "Verse can give thee life again" is a powerful statement about the power of poetry to capture the essence of nature and preserve it for future generations.

The third stanza is a reflection on the power of nature and the role of the poet in capturing its beauty. The speaker says, "Nature's sweetest work is done" and that the poet's job is to "catch her whispering strains." This line is a nod to the Romantic belief that nature is the ultimate source of inspiration for art and that the poet's job is to capture its essence in their work.

The fourth stanza is a continuation of the third, with the speaker saying that the poet's job is to "paint the spirit of the flowers." This line is a reference to the idea that the beauty of nature is not just in its physical appearance but also in its essence. The poet's job is to capture that essence and convey it through their words.

The fifth and final stanza is a reflection on the power of poetry to transcend time and preserve the beauty of nature for future generations. The speaker says, "And when, surviving all thy faded charms, / Shall memory cease to be," acknowledging that even when the flower has withered away and been forgotten, poetry will still exist to remind us of its beauty.

The structure of the poem is simple, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines rhyming. This simple structure allows the poem's message to shine through without any distractions.

Wordsworth uses several literary devices in the poem to convey his message. The use of vivid imagery allows the reader to visualize the flower and appreciate its beauty. The repetition of the word "sweet" in the first line sets a tone of admiration and affection for the flower. The use of personification in the line "Nature's sweetest work is done" gives nature a human-like quality, making it easier for the reader to relate to.

The most powerful literary device used in the poem is the metaphor of poetry as a means of immortalizing the beauty of nature. The line "Verse can give thee life again" is a powerful statement about the power of poetry to capture the essence of nature and preserve it for future generations. This metaphor is a reflection of the Romantic belief that nature is the ultimate source of inspiration for art and that the poet's job is to capture its essence in their work.

In conclusion, "Poetry To The Same Flower" is a beautiful ode to the beauty and fragility of nature. Wordsworth's use of vivid imagery, simple structure, and powerful literary devices convey a message about the power of poetry to immortalize the beauty of nature. The poem is a reminder that even when the physical beauty of nature fades away, poetry will still exist to remind us of its essence.

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