Lines written near Richmond, upon the Thames, at Evening
William Wordsworth
1770 to 1850
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
Easy Mode - Auto check enabled
--And let him nurse his fond deceit,
And pray that never child of Song
O glide, fair stream! for ever so,
A little moment past so smiling!
Save in the milder grief of pity.
Such views the youthful bard allure;
And see how dark the backward stream,
Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
As now, fair river! come to me.
The boat her silent path pursues!
He deems their colours shall endure
Glide gently, thus for ever glide,
Some other loiterer beguiling.
And still perhaps, with faithless gleam,
O Thames! that other bards may see,
The evening darkness gathers round
How rich the wave, in front, imprest
How bright, how solemn, how serene!
As lovely visions by thy side
Who, pouring here a later ditty,
By virtue's holiest powers attended.
Such heart did once the poet bless,
How calm! how still! the only sound,
The dripping of the oar suspended!
Who would not cherish dreams so sweet,
May know his freezing sorrows more.
Could find no refuge from distress
Till all our minds for ever flow
That in thy waters may be seen
For him suspend the dashing oar,
But heedless of the following gloom,
The image of a poet's heart,
As thy deep waters now are flowing.
And what if he must die in sorrow!
With evening-twilight's summer hues,
Till peace go with him to the tomb.
Though grief and pain may come to-morrow?
While, facing thus the crimson west,
Vain thought! Yet be as now thou art,
Remembrance! as we glide along,