A Character
I marvel how Nature could ever find space,
For so many strange contrasts in one human face;
There’s thought and no thought, and there’s paleness and bloom,
And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom.
There’s weakness, and strength both redundant and vain;
Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain,
Could pierce through a temper that’s soft to disease,
Would be rational peace–a philosopher’s ease.
There’s indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds,
And attention full ten times as much as there needs;
Pride where there’s no envy, there’s so much of joy;
And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy.
There’s freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare
Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she’s there,
There’s virtue, the title it surely may claim,
Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name.
This picture from nature may seem to depart,
Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart;
And I for five centuries right gladly would be
Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he.
-William Wordsworth
HI: I am not going to look up this poem in some anthology but I bet that the line:
“And attention full ten times as much as there needs; ”
should read “And attention full ten times as much as THEIR needs; ”
a typo happened somewhere – the poem is beautiful nevertheless.
Thanks Veraersilia for pointing that possible error out. Will recheck and surely edit the post if there is a mistake in that spelling!
🙂
Cool poem!
🙂
Beautiful!
I think so too Madhu! Thanks for the visit and the comment. Hope to hear more often from your side!
🙂
i never much liked Wordsworth-still can’t forgive him for the agony called Tintern Abbey we had in our 12th standard syllabus!
But this one’s good!
was it ICSE you had? Oh God! that reminds me of Milton’s L’Allegro from my 12th standard! An agony that is still fresh in my mind!
Each line so much meaning! A beautiful piece indeed!
Thanks.
Let’s thank the Maestro Dilip!
🙂
Ha Ha that’s really koool! Cheers!
There’s love that is lurking
But on the flip
There’s contempt that is showing
In the curl of the lip.
Wistfulness resides
In a faraway look
There’s a hardness that bides
In that expression of a crook.
There’s patience , profound
And a wisdom that’s deep
But the eyes do not lie
When silently they weep
Yes we’re complex as coils
But also straight lines
There’s a bit of the devil
And sparks of the divine.
With your permission, I’m sharing this on my FB page. Kind of pleased with what I added. 🙂
thanks a lot for the lovely share!!
I’ve never read this poem before. It is beautiful. Thanks for sharing 🙂 Love the line “There’s indifference…..And attention ….”.
WONDERFUL POEM.. THANKS FOR DRAWING ATTENTION
thanks for the visit!
thanks for sharing this poem amit, never read this one before.
human face is a fantastic thing to study, there is so much written on it if you can read 🙂
Face is the window to the soul- I believe it!
most people say eyes, i also think that 🙂
ok amit, i am back 🙂
you can write mail now, in sharmishthabasu@live.in
thanks!
A beautiful poem..
THANK YOU for visiting AND liking my post about some views on death …. I think people, especially in the West, are scared by the idea…