The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth
Chapter 245 : Oft on the dappled turf at ease I sit, and play with similes, [2] 10 Loose types of th

Oft on the dappled turf at ease I sit, and play with similes, [2] 10 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, 15 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; 20 A queen in crown of rubies drest; A starveling in a scanty vest; Are all, as seems [3] to suit thee best, Thy appellations.

A little cyclops, with one eye 25 Staring to threaten and defy, That thought comes next--and instantly The freak is over, The shape will vanish--and behold A silver s.h.i.+eld with boss of gold, 30 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 35 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! 40

Bright _Flower!_ [4] 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, 45 Do thou, as thou art wont, repair My heart with gladness, and a share Of thy meek nature!

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1845.

Sweet Daisy! oft I talk to thee, 1807.

Yet once again I talk . . 1836.]

[Variant 2:

1820.

Oft do I sit by thee at ease, And weave a web of similies, 1807.]

[Variant 3:

1827.

... seem ... 1807.]

[Variant 4:

1836.

Sweet Flower!.... 1807.]

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A: The two following Poems were overflowings of the mind in composing the one which stands first in the first Volume (i.e. the previous Poem),--W. W. 1807.]

In his editions 1836-1849 Wordsworth gave 1805 as the year in which this poem was composed, but the Fenwick note prefixed to it renders this impossible. It evidently belongs to the same time, and "mood," as the previous poem.--Ed.

TO THE DAISY (#2)

Composed 1802.--Published 1807

[This and the other Poems addressed to the same flower were composed at Town-end, Grasmere, during the earlier part of my residence there. I have been censured for the last line but one--"thy function apostolical"--as being little less than profane. How could it be thought so? The word is adopted with reference to its derivation, implying something sent on a mission; and a.s.suredly this little flower, especially when the subject of verse, may be regarded, in its humble degree, as administering both to moral and to spiritual purposes.--I.F.]

This was included among the "Poems of the Fancy" from 1815 to 1832. In 1837 it was transferred to the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--Ed.

Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere, Bold in maternal Nature's care, And all the long year through the heir [1]

Of joy and [2] sorrow.

Methinks that there abides in thee 5 Some concord [3] with humanity, Given to no other flower I see The forest thorough!

Is it that Man is soon deprest? [4]

A thoughtless Thing! who, once unblest, 10 Does little on his memory rest, Or on his reason, And [5] Thou would'st teach him how to find A shelter under every wind, A hope for times that are unkind 15 And every season?

Thou wander'st the wide world about, Uncheck'd by pride or scrupulous doubt, With friends to greet thee, or without, Yet pleased and willing; 20 Meek, yielding to the occasion's call, And all things suffering from all, Thy function apostolical In peace fulfilling. [6]

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1840.

Bright Flower, whose home is every where!