"
It is therefore evident that it belongs to the year 1802; although it
may have been altered and readjusted in 1804.
It is therefore evident that it belongs to the year 1802; although it
may have been altered and readjusted in 1804.
William Wordsworth
]
In the chronological lists of his poems, published in 1815 and 1820,
Wordsworth left a blank opposite this one, in the column containing the
year of composition. From 1836 to 1849, the date assigned by him was
1804. But in Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal the following occurs under
date Tuesday, 22nd March 1802:
"A mild morning. William worked at the Cuckoo poem. . . . At the closing
in of day, went to sit in the orchard. William came to me, and walked
backwards and forwards. W. repeated the poem to me. I left him there;
and in 20 minutes he came in, rather tired with attempting to write. "
"Friday (March 25). --A beautiful morning. William worked at 'The
Cuckoo'.
"
It is therefore evident that it belongs to the year 1802; although it
may have been altered and readjusted in 1804. The connection of the
seventh stanza of this poem with the first of that which follows it, "My
heart leaps up," etc. , and of both with the 'Ode, Intimations of
Immortality' (vol. viii. ), is obvious. --Ed.
* * * * *
"MY HEART LEAPS UP WHEN I BEHOLD"
Composed March 26, 1802. --Published 1807
[Written at Town-end, Grasmere. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood. " In 1807 it was
No. 4 of the series called "Moods of my own Mind. "--Ed.
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old, 5
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man; [A]
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
In the chronological lists of his poems, published in 1815 and 1820,
Wordsworth left a blank opposite this one, in the column containing the
year of composition. From 1836 to 1849, the date assigned by him was
1804. But in Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal the following occurs under
date Tuesday, 22nd March 1802:
"A mild morning. William worked at the Cuckoo poem. . . . At the closing
in of day, went to sit in the orchard. William came to me, and walked
backwards and forwards. W. repeated the poem to me. I left him there;
and in 20 minutes he came in, rather tired with attempting to write. "
"Friday (March 25). --A beautiful morning. William worked at 'The
Cuckoo'.
"
It is therefore evident that it belongs to the year 1802; although it
may have been altered and readjusted in 1804. The connection of the
seventh stanza of this poem with the first of that which follows it, "My
heart leaps up," etc. , and of both with the 'Ode, Intimations of
Immortality' (vol. viii. ), is obvious. --Ed.
* * * * *
"MY HEART LEAPS UP WHEN I BEHOLD"
Composed March 26, 1802. --Published 1807
[Written at Town-end, Grasmere. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood. " In 1807 it was
No. 4 of the series called "Moods of my own Mind. "--Ed.
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old, 5
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man; [A]
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
