“Poetic Wednesday”
I wandered lonely as a cloud
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 shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
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.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund 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.
Daffodils (“Lent Lilies”) – The National Flower of Wales
Daffodils grow wild in Wales, where I served my mission. They are the national flower. After a cold, dark, wet winter, a plethora of daffodils announce the arrival of spring. Their bright yellow “trumpet and petals,” stand in sharp contrast to the gray skies and green foliage. Because daffodils bloom between Ash Wednesday and Easter, they are also called “Lent Lilies.” Daffodils symbolize “rebirth” and “new beginnings.”
British Solo Walking Tours
Solo walking tours through the beautiful Lake District were popular among the British leisure class. It was a chance to get away from the minutia of daily life and to commune with nature. Solo walking tours were especially popular among the romantic poets like, William Wordsworth.
The hikers didn’t need backpacks with heavy provisions because there was always a village pub within walking distance, where they could get food, grog, and lodging,
Britain also has a “right to roam” law that allows people to hike across “open access lands,” including public lands, and some agricultural and private lands. The hikers must close any gates, and must leave the land undisturbed.
William Wordsworth
Poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850) helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature. He was popular and received many honors, including national Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.
(See: http://www.londonedition.net)
The London Edition 