Composed 1835.--Published 1836
[I cannot forbear to record that the last seven lines of this Poem were composed in bed during the night of the day on which my sister Sara Hutchinson died about 6 P.M., and it was the thought of her innocent and beautiful life that, through faith, prompted the words----
On wings that fear no glance of God's pure sight,
No tempest from his breath.
The reader will find two poems on pictures of this bird among my Poems. I will here observe that in a far greater number of instances than have been mentioned in these notes one poem has, as in this case, grown out of another, either because I felt the subject had been inadequately treated, or that the thoughts and images suggested in course of composition have been such as I found interfered with the unity indispensable to every work of art, however humble in character.--I.F.]
One of the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--ED.
Who rashly strove thy Image to portray?
Thou buoyant minion of the tropic air;
How could he think of the live creature----gay
With a divinity of colours, drest
In all her brightness, from the dancing crest
Far as the last gleam of the filmy train
Extended and extending to sustain
The motions that it graces----and forbear
To drop his pencil! Flowers of every clime
Depicted on these pages smile at time;
And gorgeous insects copied with nice care
Are here, and likenesses of many a shell
Tossed ashore by restless waves,
Or in the diver's grasp fetched up from caves
Where sea-nymphs might be proud to dwell:
But whose rash hand (again I ask) could dare,
'Mid casual tokens and promiscuous shows,
To circumscribe this Shape in fixed repose;
Could imitate for indolent survey,
Perhaps for touch profane,
Plumes that might catch, but cannot keep, a stain;
And, with cloud-streaks lightest and loftiest, share
The sun's first greeting, his last farewell ray!
Resplendent Wanderer! followed with glad eyes
Where'er her course; mysterious Bird!
To whom, by wondering Fancy stirred,
Eastern Islanders have given
A holy name----the Bird of Heaven!
And even a title higher still,
The Bird of God![48] whose blessed will
She seems performing as she flies
Over the earth and through the skies
In never-wearied search of Paradise----
Region that crowns her beauty with the name
She bears for us----for us how blest,
How happy at all seasons, could like aim
Uphold our Spirits urged to kindred flight
On wings that fear no glance of God's pure sight,
No tempest from his breath, their promised rest
Seeking with indefatigable quest
Above a world that deems itself most wise
When most enslaved by gross realities!
[48]Compare, in Robert Browning's poem on Guercino's picture of The Guardian-Angel at Fano----
Thou bird of God.
ED.
ČTEŠ
THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)
PoezieThe Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. 8. Edited by William Knight
