I wandered lonely as a cloud by William Wordsworth — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

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.

Translation (Urdu)

About the Poet

Historical Context

Literary Form

Lyric poem

When Written

1804

Background

یہ نظم ولیم ورڈز ورتھ نے 15 اپریل 1802 کو اپنی بہن ڈوروتھی کے ساتھ ایک واک کے دوران دیکھی گئی نرگس کے پھولوں کی قطار سے متاثر ہو کر لکھی۔

Sources: https://www.poetryverse.com/william-wordsworth-poems/daffodils, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wandered_Lonely_as_a_Cloud, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworth

Detailed Explanation

Themes

• Nature
• Solitude
• Memory
• Joy

Literary Devices

• Simile: 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' compares the poet's loneliness to a cloud.
• Personification: Daffodils are described as 'dancing' and 'tossing their heads'.
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the daffodils and natural setting.
• Alliteration: 'Beside the lake, beneath the trees' uses repeated 'b' sounds.

Word Dictionary