Monsignor Ryan’s Reflections on “The Daffodils”

A brief summary of the poem’s composition might be useful by way of introduction.

On the 15th of April 1802, Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy were walking around the Glencoyne Bay in Ullswater when they came upon, “a long belt of daffodils”. As Dorothy put it so memorably in her journal,
​“We saw a few daffodils close to the waterside, we fancied that the lake had floated the seed ashore and that that the little colony had so sprung up. But as we went along there were more and yet more and at last under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them along the shore about the breadth of a country turnpike road. I never saw daffodils so beautiful. They grew among the mossy stones, some rested their heads against these stones as on a pillow for weariness and the rest tossed and reeled and danced and seemed as if they laughed in the wind that blew them over the lake.”
The influence of this passage from Dorothy’s journal can be seen in Wordsworth’s poem.

“Daffodils” first appeared in print in 1807 and at first to negative reviews. But the poem has in many ways become William Wordsworth’s defining work. It neatly reflects “Romanticism” and its core ideas, the relationship between man and the natural word, the solitariness of the individual and the almost religious awe that nature inspires. The plain language that Wordsworth used in this poem is the language of the ordinary man. Yet effects can be subtle. These daffodils contain much significance. These are simply a few of my own thoughts on this much loved and era-defining poem.

William Wordsworth 1770 – 1850    

William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England. Wordsworth’s mother died when he was 7, and he was an orphan at 13. Despite these losses, he did well at Hawkshead Grammar School where he wrote his first poetry and went on to study at Cambridge University. He did not excel there, but managed to graduate in 1791.

Wordsworth had visited France in 1790, in the midst of the French Revolution and was a supporter of the new government’s republican ideals. On a return trip to France the next year, he fell in love with Annette Vallon, who became pregnant. However, the declaration of war between England and France in 1793 separated the two. Left adrift and without income in England, Wordsworth was influenced by radicals such as William Godwin.

In 1795, Wordsworth received an inheritance that allowed him to live with his younger sister, Dorothy. That same year, Wordsworth met Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The two became friends, and together worked on Lyrical Ballads (1798). The volume contained poems such as Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey," and helped Romanticism take hold in English poetry.

Often known simply as “Daffodils” or “The Daffodils” William Wordsworth’s lyric poem begins “I wandered lonely as a cloud” is, in many ways, the quintessential English Romantic poem. Its theme is the relationship between the individual and the natural.

Monsignor Ryan’s Reflections on “Hope” is the thing with Feathers 

“ ‘Hope’ is the thing with Feathers” is one of the best known of Emily Dickinson’s poems. An extended metaphor, it likens the concept of hope to a feathered bird that is permanently perched in the soul of every human. There it sings, never stopping in its quest to inspire. 
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Full of figurative language it reminds us that hope springs eternal. The rhythm of the poem varies which may not be apparent at first reading. Readily set to music, the words are a reminder of the poet’s yearning for fulfilment in both creativity and love. They beautifully encapsulate what hope is for us all – something that inspires and can make us fly.

Emily Dickinson 1830 – 1886

Emily Dickinson an American poet was born in Massachusetts. Her father was from a prominent American family. He was actively involved in both state and national politics.

Emily Dickinson’s poetry was heavily influenced by the metaphysical poets of 17th century England, as well by the Book of Revelations (Apocalypse) and her upbringing in a Puritan New England town which encouraged a Calvinist, orthodox and conservative approach to Christianity.

​She was not publicly recognised during her lifetime but upon her death her family discovered 1800 poems covering a wide variety of subjects.

Monsignor Ryan’s Reflections on “Down by the Salley Gardens”

“Down by the Salley Gardens” was one of Yeats’ great early poems. It was first published in “The Wanderings Of Oisin and Other Poems”. Although this is one of Yeats most straightforward poems it is worth exploring some of the language and imagery. What are the “Salley Gardens” and what was W. B. Yeats doing down by them with his beloved?

Although it is not known for sure one theory is that “Salley Gardens” refer to the banks of the River Ballysadare (near Sligo). Willow trees along the river were used to cultivate thatch for the roofs of houses. This may have given rise to the names for the gardens. The Latin for willow tree is “salix” but the Irish Gaelic for willow trees is “saileach” which is nearer and which may have given rise to the word “salley”.

In summary, “Down by the Salley Gardens” sees Yeats’ speaker ruefully reminiscing about his younger days with his sweetheart when they would go and meet by the salley gardens. His beloved would entreat him to “take love easy” and not to be too impetuous or rash when it came to love and relationships.

But he didn’t heed her words because he was young and foolish. Then looking back he is “full of tears” regretting the fact that he didn’t listen to his lover’s advice.

​“Down by the Salley Gardens” may be an early poem of W. B. Yeats, but it remains one of his most celebrated lyric poems because of the regret and sorrow running through it. While the locus of the poem seems to be Sligo, for me the poem reminds me of nearby Donegal, of long summer days, sandy beaches and the pleasantest of memories, good craic and good company. 

William Butler Yeats 1865 – 1939

W. B. Yeats was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of the Irish literary establishment he helped to found the Abbey Theatre and in his latter days he served two terms as a senator in the Irish Free State. His early works include “The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems”. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.

Although trained as lawyer he abandoned the law for art school. In addition to his poetry, Yeats devoted significant energy to writing plays. He collaborated with Lady Gregory to develop works for the Irish stage e.g. “Cathleen ni Houlihan” then “Deirdre” and  “At the Hawk’s Well”.

He became a political figure in the new Irish Free State. The publication of “Last Poems” and “Two Plays” shortly after his death further cemented his legacy as a leading poet and playwright.