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When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow park we saw a few daffodils close to the water side:At last under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them [deleted: the end we did not see] along the shore, about the breadth of a country turnpike road. I never saw daffodils so beautiful they grew among the mossy stones about and about them; some rested their heads upon these stones as on a pillow for weariness and the rest tossed and reeled and danced and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the lake, they looked so gay ever glancing ever changing.

Dorothy Wordsworth#5

NatureFlowersHappinessSpringWaterWind

About this quote

What does it mean?
A belt of daffodils near water appears to laugh and dance in the wind, showing vibrant life.
In plain terms
Rows of daffodils by the water looked like they were dancing and laughing with the breeze.
What can you take from it?
Nature's movement can evoke joy and laughter in observers.

Where it applies

  • describing a walk
  • noticing spring

Putting it to work

  • nature writing
  • poetic observation

Questions to consider

  • What natural scene makes you feel joyful?

Another view

It attributes human emotion to plants.

More from Dorothy Wordsworth

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  2. My Brother William was married to Mary Hutchinson:At a little after 8 o'clock I saw them go down the avenue towards the Church. William had parted from me upst…

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  3. We saw a raven very high above us. It called out, and the dome of the sky seemed to echo the sound. It called again and again as it flew onwards, and the mount…

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