Nature is Necessary

The Romantics are very intriguing to me. It is not everyday that you can read works that are soaked with so much passion and life. Even though most of these poets topics were reminiscent and even jealous, their works were bright with imagery and color. William Wordsworth stole the gold for my favorite out of these three poets. I heard a greater truth in his words than the others. "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey " is absolutely beautiful. Wordsworth is thinking back on long walks and times with his sister whom he loved dearly. He is clearly trying to recall old times. It also sounds to me like the sister has passed away due to his references to death. Lines 45-46, "We are laid asleep in body, and become a living soul;" make me think that the sister is now dead and burried. I must say though, that is one of the most sincere ways to approach the subject of burial. I have lost a sister and always try to think about the good times and lovely memories we have. In the midst of mortality and death, it is hard to keep my focus upward. But this passage moved me and had my attention for several minutes. I will admit that I read these lines at least 10 times! Then, Wordsworth continued to impress me. In lines 89-102 he writes, "For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity, not harsh nor grating, though of ample power to chasten and subdue. And I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused, whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, and the round ocean and the living air, and the blue sky, and in the mind of man: a motion and a spirit, that impels all thinking things, all objects of all thought, and rolls through all things." This statement really sums it all up. He clearly depends on and desires nature to inspire him. He claims that all thought and knowledge flows through the natural world. You can feel anything and everything you could ever want if you can just breathe it in. "A motion spirit that impels all thinking things...." is such a powerful statement. Without nature and this Abbey's wonderful scenery, Wordsworth writing would have been much less tasteful. Lastly, concerning this poem, he talks again about his sister by saying in line 116, "My dear, dear Friend; and in thy voice I catch the language of my former heart..." I related with this statement as well. In moments when I am down or missing my sister too badly to sit still, I know I can go to one place and always feel comfort. There is a small lake that she loved very much. I often go sit quietly with my eyes closed and just listen. In the waters ripple and break I can hear her voice; see her face again. I love that nature can carry you away. In "London, 1802" Wordsworth writes about another friend that is greatly missed. He says in lines 9-10, "Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:" Nature has once again been Wordsworth's refuge from loss and loneliness. He can hear his friend in the sea and think of him as he looks to the stars. This imagery is amazing. And what a compliment to his dear friend! It is easy to say that nature and our world were awe-inspiring to the Romantic period's poets. For me, I am still inspired daily; as I read about it and experience it for myself.