Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

William Wordsworth - Solitary Reaper

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
Upgrade to the latest Flash Player for improved playback performance. Upgrade now or more info.
11,444
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon

Uploaded by on May 9, 2010

The haunting song of a young girl inspires the mind of a poet.

Samuel Godfrey George reads William Wordsworth:

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 listen'd, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

  • likes, 3 dislikes

Link to this comment:

Share to:

Uploader Comments (samuelgodfreygeorge)

  • truly amazing...

  • @punkvijay224

    Thank you.

  • An excellent reading Samuel. Thanks very much for this moment of beauty.

  • @arcanus121

    Thank you Steven. Your words bring much joy.

see all

All Comments (6)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • i cant get it . 5056 watched it but only 7 likes

  • Lovely images. One of the things that confirmed my passion for poetry as a boy was a pile of 78rpm records (very old when I bought them, I hasten to add!) with poetry readings on them. This was one of the poems, and it had a profound effect on me, so I enjoyed this video very much.

Loading...

Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more