The Solitary Reaper - William Wordsworth

The Solitary Reaper - Poem

(William Wordsworth)

Poem- Text:

Behold 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 thrilling 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.

***

SUMMARY:

‘The Solitary Reaper’ is a fine lyric written by Wordsworth. In this poem, he describes a highland girl working alone in the field.

The girl is reaping and singing by herself.  The whole valley is filled with her melancholic voice.  The poet compares the girl’s song with that of a nightingale and a cuckoo bird. He says that the girl’s song is more melancholic than that of the nightingale singing in Arabian deserts. He further says that the girl’s voice is sweeter than that of the cuckoo birds singing in the highlands of Hebrides.

The poet does not understand the language and theme of the song. But, it appears to him that she might be singing about some old unhappy incident or present-day sorrow.  Whatever the theme of her song, the girl is singing as if there is no end. The poet carries the song in his heart long after he left the place. Such is the impression of the girl’s song on the poet.

***

NOOJILLA SRINIVAS

Lecturer in English,

Govt. Degree College - Alamuru

M: 7981862200

email: noojillasrinivas@gmail.com