Daffodils: Takes 2.
He claimed that lonely as a cloud
he wandered o'er the vales and hills.
He rambled how he saw a crowd
of yellow dancing daffodils.
Imagine Willie, arms outstretched
cavorting through the pretty flowers,
the silly pirouetting wretch -
then lying on his couch for hours.
Except he was not by himself!
His faithful Dot was by his side.
Some say she wrote that dreadful verse
and Willie found it on her shelf.
Whatever. Can it be denied
they never penned a poem worse?
Wordsworth's biographers suggest that his sister Dorothy accompanied William on his lakeside walk that fateful morning. (April 15th., 1802.)
How delightfully bolshie of you, Doc! I've never liked that drat poem either, even though daffodils are probably my favourite flower. Your version reminds me of Molesworth's friend, Fotherington-Thomas, who could pirouette with the best of them. :) Go to the top of the class - even though you may be first in line to get caned for this homework!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jinksy. Generations of poets have failed to distinguish between a memorable poem and a poem which is easy to remember.
DeleteJames Kenneth Stephen (1859-92) took Wordsworth head on with these devastating lines:-
"Two voices are there: one is of the Deep . .
the other is an old half-witted sheep."
Yep - once you start talking about 'voices', I'm sure my own ones could form a choir single handed. LOL
ReplyDeleteI've nothing to add here except that I admire your humor. :-)
ReplyDeletePearl
:D This one made me smile!
ReplyDeleteGood! . . so there's a silver lining to every cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills!
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