Volume 2 — To the Same FlowerA

To the Same Flower^A

Composed 1802.—Published 1807

The Poem

[Composed in the orchard, Town-end, Grasmere.—I. F.]

One of the "Poems of the Fancy."—Ed.

The Poem

text variant footnote line number

With little here to do or see Of things that in the great world be, Daisy! again I talk to thee, For thou art worthy, Thou unassuming Common-place Of Nature, with that homely face, And yet with something of a grace, Which Love makes for thee! Oft on the dappled turf at ease I sit, and play with similes, 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, 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; A queen in crown of rubies drest; A starveling in a scanty vest; Are all, as seems to suit thee best, Thy appellations. A little cyclops, with one eye Staring to threaten and defy, That thought comes next—and instantly The freak is over, The shape will vanish—and behold A silver shield with boss of gold, 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 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! Bright Flower! 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, Do thou, as thou art wont, repair My heart with gladness, and a share Of thy meek nature! Note Contents 1802 Main Contents 1 2 3 4 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Variant 1:

1845

Sweet Daisy! oft I talk to thee, 1807

Yet once again I talk ... 1836

return

Variant 2:

1820

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

return

Variant 3:

1827

... seem ... 1807

return

Variant 4:

1836

Sweet Flower!.... 1807

return

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.

return to footnote mark

Note:

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.

Contents 1802 Main Contents