THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)

POOR ROBIN [214]

Composed March 1840.--Published 1842

[I often ask myself what will become of Rydal Mount after our day. Will the old walls and steps remain in front of the house and about the grounds, or will they be swept away with all the beautiful mosses and ferns and wild geraniums and other flowers which their rude construction suffered and encouraged to grow among them?[215]--This little wildflower--"Poor Robin"--is here constantly courting my attention, and exciting what may be called a domestic interest with the varying aspects of its stalks and leaves and flowers.[216] Strangely do the tastes of men differ according to their employment and habits of life. "What a nice well would that be," said a labouring man to me one day, "if all that rubbish was cleared off." The "rubbish" was some of the most beautiful mosses and lichens and ferns and other wild growths that could possibly be seen. Defend us from the tyranny of trimness and neatness showing itself in this way! Chatterton says of freedom--"Upon her head, wild weeds were spread," and depend upon it if "the marvellous boy" had undertaken to give Flora a garland, he would have preferred what we are apt to call weeds to garden flowers. True taste has an eye for both. Weeds have been called flowers out of place. I fear the place most people would assign to them is too limited. Let them come near to our abodes, as surely they may, without impropriety or disorder.--I.F.]

One of the "Miscellaneous Poems."--ED.

Now when the primrose makes a splendid show,

And lilies face the March-winds in full blow,

And humbler growths as moved with one desire

Put on, to welcome spring, their best attire,

Poor Robin is yet flowerless; but how gay

With his red stalks upon this sunny day!

And, as his tufts[217] of leaves he spreads, content

With a hard bed and scanty nourishment,

Mixed with the green, some shine not lacking power

To rival summer's brightest scarlet flower;

And flowers they well might seem to passers-by

If looked at only with a careless eye;

Flowers--or a richer produce (did it suit

The season) sprinklings of ripe strawberry fruit.

But while a thousand pleasures come unsought,

Why fix upon his wealth or want[218] a thought?

Is the string touched in prelude to a lay

Of pretty fancies that would round him play

When all the world acknowledged elfin sway?

Or does it suit our humour to commend

Poor Robin as a sure and crafty friend,

Whose practice teaches, spite of names to show

Bright colours whether they deceive or no?--

Nay, we would simply praise the free good-will

With which, though slighted, he, on naked hill

Or in warm valley, seeks his part to fill;

Cheerful alike if bare of flowers as now,

Or when his tiny gems shall deck his brow:

Yet more, we wish that men by men despised,

And such as lift their foreheads overprized,

Should sometimes think, where'er they chance to spy

This child of Nature's own humility,

What recompense is kept in store or left

For all that seem neglected or bereft;

With what nice care equivalents are given,

How just, how bountiful, the hand of Heaven.

March, 1840.

[214] The small wild Geranium known by that name.--W.W. 1842.

[215] These things remain comparatively unaltered. Rydal Mount has suffered little in picturesqueness since Wordsworth's death; while the house, and the grounds, have gained in many ways by what the present tenant has done for them. It is impossible to keep such a place exactly as it was left by its greatest tenant, and Mr. Crewdson has certainly not injured, but wisely improved the place.--ED.

[216] Compare what is said of it in the Memoirs of Wordsworth, by his nephew, vol. i. p. 20.--ED.

[217] 1849.

... tuft


1842.

[218] 1845.

... want or wealth

1842.