The Solitary Reaper Poem by William Wordsworth

The Solitary Reaper

Rating: 4.5


Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland Lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?--
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending;--
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mallika Joshi 20 September 2011

it was written when the poet is travelling through the scottish highlands. while crossing a valley, he is hears a beautiful voice of a young lass singing a song which was proably sad. he was amazed by the sweetness of her voice and the beauty of her song. the notes of the song were very sad and he assumed that she was probably singing about something tragic that happened, about war and how it affected her, etc. he is so starled by her voice that he compares her to cuckoo bird or a nightingale who are known for their sweet voice. she is reaping alone in the field singing a song that doesnt seem to end. the valley is filled by her voice. though he wonders whether he should stay and listen to the young reaper or just walk ahead. he leaves. but he does wish to figure out her situation.

129 62 Reply
Rahul Jaiswal 19 January 2012

A very beautiful poem and it describes that William was really WORDS WORTH

105 54 Reply
Khundana Brahma 24 February 2012

I have read this poem when I was in school and my teacher explained this poem so well that I started to imagine myself as the Reaper. the words in this poem can make to reader see the scene while closing their eyes. thanks to teacher MISS REENA as SANGHAMITRA MAZUMDER for making me understand such a priceless poem.

85 52 Reply
Laxi Chellappa 10 July 2012

This was one of my favorite poem which i read when i was in my school.Thanks to my english mam Muthulatha who made me understand the soul of the poem.The poem is like a saddest song which tell us a sweetest thoughts.

83 52 Reply
Rishav Anand 09 August 2011

wow wat a nice poem such nice just cant explain. but i would definitely want to know wat was the reason behind the song sung by her or what was she singing

72 61 Reply
Tarun 04 August 2020

it was very nice could not give answer to qestion to 1 answer

0 0 Reply
X Y Z 25 August 2019

I want Paraphrasing

1 0 Reply
RS Yadav 11 March 2019

The Solitary Highland Lass is - a girl from where

2 1 Reply
Pradeep Kumar Rathour 02 December 2018

So nice yr

1 3 Reply
Justin browne 16 July 2018

Heart touching poem

2 2 Reply
William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth

Cumberland / England
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