The Book of Flowers

William Wordsworth

• Publisher: Ragged Hand - Read & Co.
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781528789400
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Poetry
• Index: Literature

A delightful pocket-sized collection of William Wordsworth's poetry on flowers. This volume brings Wordsworth's vivid nature imagery to life, featuring much-loved poems such as 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud' or 'Daffodils'.

This beautiful collection of Wordsworth's poetry is drawn together by a common theme of flowers and plant life. The poems give inspiring descriptions of nature and are intertwined with the poet's thoughts and experiences of life, including his friendships, relationships and religious beliefs.

Included in this volume are poems such as:

- 'To the Daisy' - 'To the Small Celadine' - 'To the Waterfall and the Eglantine' - 'The Oak and the Broom. A Pastoral' - 'Not Love, Not War, Nor the Tumultuous Swell' - 'Though the Bold Wings of Poesy Affect'

From the specialist poetry imprint, Ragged Hand, Read & Co. has proudly republished Wordsworth's Poetry on Flowers in this beautiful small edition, perfect for on-the-go reading. Complete with an introductory excerpt from Thomas Carlyle's 1881 Reminiscences, this volume is not to be missed by nature lovers or collectors of Wordsworth's work.

THE EGYPTIAN MAID

OR, THE ROMANCE
OF THE WATER-LILY.

While Merlin paced the Cornish sands,

Forth-looking toward the Rocks of Scilly,

The pleased Enchanter was aware

Of a bright Ship that seemed to hang in air,

Yet was she work of mortal hands,

And took from men her name – The Water Lily.

Soft was the wind, that landward blew;

And, as the Moon, o'er some dark hill ascendant,

Grows from a little edge of light

To a full orb, this Pinnace bright,

As nearer to the Coast she drew,

Appeared more glorious, with spread sail and pendant.

Upon this winged Shape so fair

Sage Merlin gazed with admiration:

Her lineaments, thought he, surpass

Aught that was ever shown in magic glass;

In patience built with subtle care;

Or, at a touch, set forth with wondrous transformation.

Now, though a Mechanist, whose skill

Shames the degenerate grasp of modern science,

Grave Merlin (and belike the more

For practising occult and perilous lore)

Was subject to a freakish will

That sapped good thoughts, or scared them with defiance.

Provoked to envious spleen, he cast

An altered look upon the advancing Stranger

Whom he had hailed with joy, and cried,

"My Art shall help to tame her pride – "

Anon the breeze became a blast,

And the waves rose, and sky portended danger.

With thrilling word, and potent sign

Traced on the beach, his work the Sorcerer urges;

The clouds in blacker clouds are lost,

Like spiteful Fiends that vanish, crossed

By Fiends of aspect more malign;

And the winds roused the Deep with fiercer scourges.

But worthy of the name she bore

...

Table of contents

• William Wordsworth
• TO THE DAISY.
• TO THE SAME FLOWER.
• TO THE SMALL CELANDINE.
• TO THE SAME FLOWER.
• I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD.
• THE WATERFALL AND THE EGLANTINE.
• THE OAK AND THE BROOM.
• NOT LOVE, NOT WAR, NOR THE TUMULTUOUS SWELL
• A FLOWER GARDEN.
• THOUGH THE BOLD WINGS OF POESY AFFECT.
• THE EGYPTIAN MAID
• FLOWERS ON THE TOP OF THE PILLARS AT THE ENTRANCE OF A CAVE.
• FORESIGHT.
• ADIEU, RYDALIAN LAURELS! THAT HAVE GROWN.
• BIBLIOGRAPHY