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William Wordsworth (1770-1850 / Cumberland / England)
The Solitary Reaper
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Will no one tell me what she sings?--
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;--
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
Read poems about / on: loss, sorrow, music, silence, spring, work, song, pain, alone
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Enchanting, I am completely wonderstruck. While the poet encountered the maiden in the vale her song left him motionless and still but sadly, it was no longer heard.
I remember this poem, read in our school time and memorise the whole poem to get pass marks
Wordsworth leaves us in no doubt that there is only one reaper in this poem. In the first stanza he tells us that she`s single, she`s solitary, she`s by herself, and she`s alone. I think we get the point, get the point.
This was one of my favorite poem which i read when i was in my school.Thanks to my english mam Muthulatha who made me understand the soul of the poem.The poem is like a saddest song which tell us a sweetest thoughts.
I have read this poem when I was in school and my teacher explained this poem so well that I started to imagine myself as the Reaper. the words in this poem can make to reader see the scene while closing their eyes. thanks to teacher MISS REENA as SANGHAMITRA MAZUMDER for making me understand such a priceless poem.
A very beautiful poem and it describes that William was really WORDS WORTH
it was written when the poet is travelling through the scottish highlands. while crossing a valley, he is hears a beautiful voice of a young lass singing a song which was proably sad. he was amazed by the sweetness of her voice and the beauty of her song. the notes of the song were very sad and he assumed that she was probably singing about something tragic that happened, about war and how it affected her, etc. he is so starled by her voice that he compares her to cuckoo bird or a nightingale who are known for their sweet voice. she is reaping alone in the field singing a song that doesnt seem to end. the valley is filled by her voice. though he wonders whether he should stay and listen to the young reaper or just walk ahead. he leaves. but he does wish to figure out her situation.
wow wat a nice poem such nice just cant explain.
but i would definitely want to know wat was the reason behind the song sung by her
or what was she singing
this poem describe that when william was on a vacation with his sister to scotland their he saw a high land lass(scottish girl) singing and working all by herself.she was constantly changing her work.sometimes she was reaping and other time she was stacking.but what the writer more concentrated on was her voice which was more beautiful than the nightingale and cuckoo bird.even though she was singing a melancholic song and in a language that william could not understand.but he didnt need to also because he could understand by her tone that what she was singing.
but alas he had to go.he left and remebered that unique song which was not sung like her voice anywhere............see the beauty of the poem (i wrote it specially for u laura rajaram so hope u understood it)
I always loved this poem from childhood but i never really understood the meaning back then. The writter is very thoughtful and humane...