Daffodils

Two Daffodils by Taryn Day

I think my favorite flower has always been the daffodil. They seemed to be everywhere when I was a kid in Virginia, but I guess they just don't do as well in the Texas heat. They are a beautiful yellow with a little petal cup in the middle, and their fragrance is wonderful and delicate. My friend, Ben, was reading this poem back in January and I meant to make a blog entry about it then, but never got around to it. Thanks for reminding me about the poem, Ben. I'm thinking about you and hope you are doing well. I found this painting on line and thought it was a lovely depiction of daffodils.

"Daffodils" (1804)
I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).