That floats on high o"er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd,A host of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze, Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the Milky Way1,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.
1 Milky Way: the bright belt which is seen at night stretching across the sky. It is composed of stars so far and so blended as to be distinguishable only with the telescope.
The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund1 company;
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,They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude,And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.
The primal duties shine aloft, like stars;
The charities that soothe and heal and bless Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers.
(WILLIAM WORDSWORTH)
1 Jocund: merry; gay.