Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth
The poem reflects on the serene beauty of the Thames River, invoking a sense of tranquility and contemplation. The speaker expresses a desire for the river to continue flowing gently, allowing future poets to experience the same inspiring visions. There is a yearning for the river to embody the essence of a poet's heart—bright, solemn, and serene. The speaker acknowledges the futility of such thoughts but still wishes for the river to remain unchanged, serving as a mirror to the poet's emotions. The poem transitions into a moment of reflection, where the speaker suggests pausing their journey to honor a fellow poet who found solace in the river's beauty amidst personal distress. The atmosphere is calm and still, with the only sound being the gentle dripping of the oar, as darkness envelops the scene, accompanied by a sense of reverence for the powers of virtue. The work captures themes of memory, loss, and the enduring connection between nature and the creative spirit.
By William Wordsworth · First published 1807 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry · 240 words
First lines
Glide gently, thus for ever glide, / O Thames! that other Bards may see / As lovely visions by thy side / As now, fair River! come to me.
Oh glide, fair Stream! for ever so, / Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, / Till all our minds for ever flow / As thy deep waters now are flowing.
Vain thought! . Yet be as now thou art, / That in thy waters may be seen / The image of a poet's heart, / How bright, how solemn, how serene!
Such as did once the Poet bless, / Who, pouring here a later23 ditty, / Could find no refuge from distress / But in the milder grief of pity.
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Remembrance of Collins is listed on Textopian as a poem by William Wordsworth, dated 1807 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: William Wordsworth
- Date: 1807 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry, Elegy, Reflective Poetry
- Length: 240 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, emotion, and individual experience align with Romantic ideals.
- Nature Poetry — The poem focuses on the Thames River and its serene qualities, emphasizing the beauty of nature.
- Elegy — The poem reflects on loss and sorrow, particularly in relation to the poet's experiences.
Tags
Romanticism · Poetry · Nature · Memory · Nostalgia · Autobiography · Personal · Emotional · Reflective · Introspective · Imagery · Symbolic
More by William Wordsworth
- Expostulation and Reply (1817)
- The Tables Turned (1798)
- Animal Tranquillity and Decay (1816)
- Goody Blake and Harry Gill (1798)
- The Last of the Flock (1815)
- Lines Left Upon a Seat in a Yew-Tree, which Stands Near the Lake of Estwaithe, on a Desolate Part of the Shore, Yet Commanding a Beautiful Prospect (1818)
- The Foster-Mother's Tale (1815)
- The Thorn (1798)
- All works by William Wordsworth