Wednesday 9 April 2014

Bertie's musings on Wordsworth...


           I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
Lonely? A cloud, lonely? Clearly William Wordsworth was not in Aberdeen. The whole sky has been covered in clouds all week..
          That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
And they are very low clouds too.
          When all at once I saw a crowd,
          A host, of golden daffodils;
Well yes we certainly have plenty of them here.
          Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
          Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
But you know what, for the first time in about six months, there is in fact NO WIND here this morning. And no sign of even the gentlest fluttering.
          
          Continuous as the stars that shine
          And twinkle on the milky way,
Hmmm. Astronomy. Nice touch there Bill.
          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.
A cab driver once told Gail there were ten million daffodils in Aberdeen…

          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:
This is so true. Sort of like being with a wire-haired fox terrier actually.
          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,  
I wouldn't say I do vacant.                             
          They flash upon that inward eye
          Which is the bliss of solitude;
          And then my heart with pleasure fills,
          And dances with the daffodils.
Ah yes, I get what he means now :-)

18 comments:

  1. BOL BOL my learned friend. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  2. That's a HEAP of daffodils! We'd like to see you dancing through them...you know practising your agility.

    And we know you NEVER have vacant thoughts.....

    Great melding of poem with your life, Bertie.

    XXXOOO Bella & Roxy

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  3. Oh Bertie I have always loved Wordsworth and you have made him even better. I never travel but some day I must go to Aberdeen
    retro rover

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  4. BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO SIR BERTIE WHAT A GREAT interpretation. Mom says she wishes your excellent skills had been available during her literature classes. You make it all quite enjoyable
    hugs madi your bfff

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  5. Agreeing with all the praise. Great interpretation! Do you do interpretive dancing too? The muzzer says that was a big thing when she was in school. (Dark Ages)

    gus n teka

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    Replies
    1. Oh yes. Wave your arms and pretend you are a daffodil. Gail remembers those classes (and wishing she was allowed to play football instead!)

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  6. Bertie,
    Yes, I was beginning to doubt Wordsworth there with his opening line, but the rest of it makes sense. I mean, there definitely are over 10 million daffies in Aberdeen, and they make it a whole lot nicer! Bertie, where is the picture of you dancing with the daffodils, though?
    Pippa :)

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  7. BERTIE.... your commentary TRULY improved that Poem. AND they pictures visualizations.
    OMD a HUGE field of Daffy Dills. WE love them.

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  8. What a perfect poem for this time of year!

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  9. Standing ovation Bertie
    Lily & Edward

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  10. What a pawsome reading! Love your interpretation of it:)

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  11. Glad you finally had a great day while roaming in your Daffodils!

    The Mad Scots

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  12. Oh Bertie, you must come visit and read some poems to mum to stop her thinking of, well, poo. Loved the daffodils and your poem. Just lovely. Take care mate. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  13. Bewtie
    What joy, to have yo ntewpwet that Wowdswowf fellow fow me..and now the image of you bouncing amidst tenthousand daffodillys is fuwwevew in my bwain..heaven
    Smoochie kisss
    Asta

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  14. I gotta say Bertie - you make poetry a little more entertaining!

    Tail Wuggles, Rubie xxx

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  15. Thanks for the eisegesis, Bertie. Definitely Wordsworthy!

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