I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
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 to me the show 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.
Poem
Vocabulary List Tap 🔊
Tap the speaker to hear each word or phrase.
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vales
Valleys.
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a host (of)
A large number; many.
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daffodils
Yellow spring flowers with trumpet-shaped centers.
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fluttering
Moving lightly and quickly, like wings in the wind.
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breeze
A light wind.
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sprightly
Lively; full of energy.
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glee
Great joy; happiness.
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gay
Cheerful and happy (older usage in the poem).
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jocund
Cheerful; light-hearted.
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oft
Often (poetic/old-fashioned).
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vacant
Empty; not thinking about anything.
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pensive
Quietly thinking, often a little sad.
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inward eye
Imagination; memory in your mind.
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bliss
Perfect happiness.
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solitude
Being alone (often peaceful or chosen).
Meaning (Simple)
The speaker remembers seeing a field of daffodils dancing in the wind. That happy image stays in his memory. Later, when he is alone or feeling empty, the memory returns and brings him joy. Nature gives lasting emotional “wealth.”
Comprehension Questions
Answer the questions based on the poem.
- What natural scene does the speaker see near the lake?
- How are the daffodils compared to the stars?
- Why does the poet feel “gay” and “in jocund company”?
- When do the daffodils return to the speaker’s mind?
- What effect does this memory have on his heart?
Discussion Prompts
- Describe a memory of nature that makes you feel better later. Why?
- What images or words in the poem are most vivid to you?
- Do you agree that nature can be a kind of “wealth”? Explain.
- Paraphrase the last stanza in your own words.