Solitary Reaper

EHOLD her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
 
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so shrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
 
Will no one tell me what she sings?–
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
 
Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;–
I listen’d, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
 
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1770-1850) 

8 comments so far

  1. [...] Solitary Reaper [...]

  2. rav on

    I read this poem 10 yrs back… gud to see it again.. :)

  3. dilip on

    i read this poem when i was in grade 4/5 in gulmohar and english book …. this book was taught by .great teacher late.dilip chettri………n this is the poem on which i m delivering my 1st speech in the public speaking class…this will be my first speech in my life time ever….i choose this poem because i have understood well n i like this poem very much…..this lead meh to see this poem again thankx speech class

  4. Anju Sekhar on

    remembering my school days……..really wonderful.

  5. venugopal on

    i was taught this poem 28 years ago when i was in 10th std. nice to read this poem again.

  6. ksindhoor on

    I like this poem very much.It’s very nice & interesting

  7. loveth on

    wat a nice poem to read and study as a student in kano Nigeria

  8. sarika on

    O love it all over again..one of the poems i cud vividly remember! THanks :)


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