The Poem

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Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale!
Say that we come, and come by this day's light;
Fly upon swiftest wing round field and height,
But chiefly let one Cottage hear the tale;
There let a mystery of joy prevail,
The kitten frolic, like a gamesome sprite,
And Rover whine, as at a second sight
Of near-approaching good that shall not fail:
And from that Infant's face let joy appear;
Yea, let our Mary's one companion child—
That hath her six weeks' solitude beguiled
With intimations manifold and dear,
While we have wandered over wood and wild—
Smile on his Mother now with bolder cheer.
[Note]
[Contents 1803]
[Main Contents]		[1]
[2]
[3]

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[Variant 1:]

1837
Fly, some kind Spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale!1815
... dale, 1827

Fly, some kind Spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale!

... dale,

[return]

[Variant 2:]

1837
Glad tidings!—spread them over field and height; 1815

Glad tidings!—spread them over field and height;

[return]

[Variant 3:]

1837
The Kitten frolic with unruly might,1815
The happy Kitten bound with frolic might,1827

The Kitten frolic with unruly might,

The happy Kitten bound with frolic might,

[return]

[Footnote A:]

In the editions of 1815 and 1820, this poem bore the title, On approaching Home, after a Tour in Scotland, 1803,—Ed.

[return to footnote mark]

Note:

"Sunday, September 25, 1803.—A beautiful autumnal day. Breakfasted at a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld; arrived at home between eight and nine o'clock, where we found Mary in perfect health, Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the clothes-basket by the fire."

(From Dorothy Wordsworth's Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland, 1803.)—Ed.

[Contents 1803]
[Main Contents]

The Blind Highland Boy

A Tale Told by the Fire-side, after Returning to the Vale of Grasmere[A]

Date of composition uncertain.—Published 1807

[The Poem]

[The story was told me by George Mackereth, for many years parish-clerk of Grasmere. He had been an eye-witness of the occurrence. The vessel in reality was a washing-tub, which the little fellow had met with on the shores of the Loch.—I.F.]

One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood" in 1815 and 1820.—Ed.