THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL. 2 (Completed)

TO THE DAISY (#2)

Composed 1802.--Published 1807

[This and the other Poems addressed to the same flower were composed at Town-end, Grasmere, during the earlier part of my residence there. I have been censured for the last line but one--"thy function apostolical"--as being little less than profane. How could it be thought so? The word is adopted with reference to its derivation, implying something sent on a mission; and assuredly this little flower,especially when the subject of verse, may be regarded, in its humble degree, as administering both to moral and to spiritual purposes.--I.F.]

This was included among the "Poems of the Fancy" from 1815 to 1832. In 1837 it was transferred to the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--Ed.

Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere,

Bold in maternal Nature's care,

And all the long year through the heir [1]

Of joy and [2] sorrow.

Methinks that there abides in thee

Some concord [3] with humanity,

Given to no other flower I see

The forest thorough!

Is it that Man is soon deprest? [4]

A thoughtless Thing! who, once unblest,

Does little on his memory rest,

Or on his reason, And [5]

Thou would'st teach him how to find

A shelter under every wind,

A hope for times that are unkind

And every season?

Thou wander'st the wide world about,

Uncheck'd by pride or scrupulous doubt,

With friends to greet thee, or without,

Yet pleased and willing;

Meek, yielding to the occasion's call,

And all things suffering from all,

Thy function apostolical

In peace fulfilling. [6]

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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:1840.

Bright Flower, whose home is every where!

A Pilgrim bold in Nature's care,

And all the long year through the heir 1807.

Bright flower, whose home is every where!

A Pilgrim bold in Nature's care,

And oft, the long year through, the heir 1827.

Confiding Flower, by Nature's care

Made bold,--who, lodging here or there,

Art all the long year through the heir 1837.]

[Variant 2:1850.

... or ... 1807.]

[Variant 3:1807.

Communion ... 1837.

The text of 1840 returns to that of 1807.]

[Variant 4:1807.

And wherefore? Man is soon deprest; 1827.

The text of 1837 returns to that of 1807.]

[Variant 5:1807.

But ... 1827.

The text of 1837 returns to that of 1807.]

[Variant 6:1807.

This stanza was omitted in the editions of 1827 and 1832, but replaced in 1837.]

The three preceding poems 'To the Daisy' evidently belong to the same time, and are, as Wordsworth expressly says, "overflowings of the mind in composing the one which stands first." Nevertheless, in the revised edition of 1836-7, he gave the date 1802 to the first, 1803 to the third, and 1805 to the second of them. In the earlier editions 1815 to 1832, they are all classed among the "Poems of the Fancy," but in the edition of 1837, and afterwards, the last, "Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere," is ranked among the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."
They should manifestly be placed together. Wordsworth's fourth poem 'To the Daisy', which is an elegy on his brother John, and belongs to a subsequent year--having no connection with the three preceding poems,will be found in its chronological place.--Ed.

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