To a Butterfly - A Spiritual Poem by William Wordsworth
To A Butterfly
Williams Wordsworth
I'VE watched you now a full half-hour;
Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly! indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless!--not frozen seas
More motionless! and then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
This plot of orchard-ground is ours;
My trees they are, my Sister's flowers;
Here rest your wings when they are weary;
Here lodge as in a sanctuary!
Come often to us, fear no wrong;
Sit near us on the bough!
We'll talk of sunshine and of song,
And summer days, when we were young;
Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
STAY near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!
Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her, feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.
A nostalgic and spiritual poem
Through this poem we are encouraged to cherish the fleeting moments of joy and the innocence of childhood. The speaker's encounter with the butterfly serves as a metaphor for appreciating the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of life, and also as a portal to memories from childhood.
The poem begins with the speaker observing the butterfly, marveling at its stillness on a yellow flower. The poet expresses wonder at whether the butterfly is sleeping or feeding. The tranquility of the butterfly is contrasted with the anticipation of joy when it is awakened by the breeze and takes flight among the trees. This anticipation symbolizes the joyous moments in life that come unexpectedly.
The plot of orchard-ground mentioned in the poem represents a safe and welcoming space where the butterfly can find refuge. The poet invites the butterfly to come often and assures it of safety, creating a sense of belonging and harmony with nature.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's thoughts shift to reminiscing about his childhood days spent with his sister, Emmeline. They used to chase butterflies together, and the poet fondly recalls being a spirited hunter pursuing the butterfly, while his sister would delicately avoid disturbing the dust on its wings.
Singing oneness!
0 Comments