Three Years She Grew by William Wordsworth (Poem & Summary)

 

Three Years She Grew

by William Wordsworth

(Poem & Summary) 

Three Years She Grew

Three years she grew in sun and shower,

Then Nature said, "A lovelier flower

On earth was never sown;

This Child I to myself will take;

She shall be mine, and I will make

A Lady of my own.

 

"Myself will to my darling be

Both law and impulse: and with me

The Girl, in rock and plain,

In earth and heaven, in glade and bower,

Shall feel an overseeing power

To kindle or restrain.

 

"She shall be sportive as the fawn

That wild with glee across the lawn

Or up the mountain springs;

And hers shall be the breathing balm,

And hers the silence and the calm

Of mute insensate things.

 

"The floating clouds their state shall lend

To her; for her the willow bend;

Nor shall she fail to see

Even in the motions of the Storm

Grace that shall mould the Maiden's form

By silent sympathy.

 

"The stars of midnight shall be dear

To her; and she shall lean her ear

In many a secret place

Where rivulets dance their wayward round,

And beauty born of murmuring sound

Shall pass into her face.

 

"And vital feelings of delight

Shall rear her form to stately height,

Her virgin bosom swell;

Such thoughts to Lucy I will give

While she and I together live

Here in this happy dell."

 

Thus Nature spake—The work was done—

How soon my Lucy's race was run!

She died, and left to me

This heath, this calm and quiet scene;

The memory of what has been,

And never more will be.

 

Summary

The poem 'Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower' was composed by William Wordsworth in 1799 in Germany. In this poem, the poet expresses his feelings for nature in an impressive way. According to the poet, nature can bring up a child better than human beings.

According to the poet, Lucy was brought up by nature and she enjoyed in the lap of nature. Nature compares Lucy to the loveliest flower on earth. Lucy seems, to nature, very charming like a beautiful flower. So, nature decides to adopt Lucy and bring her up. Nature wants to make Lucy cultured and disciplined like her.

Nature cares for Lucy in the hilly areas, the plains, on the earth or in the sky. She always guides her in her works and inspires her to have noble thoughts.

According to the poet nature always will guide Lucy to keep her on the right path. Lucy will be like a young deer who will enjoy the company of nature and its objects. She will be calm in the peaceful atmosphere of nature, and will feel the fragrance of the flowers.

Nature will teach Lucy important lessons of life. She will teach her the qualities of nature: the value of freedom from free movements of clouds, softness, flexibility from the willow-trees and a graceful manner from fearful storms. She will learn from nature to be calm and peaceful in every situation of life.

According to the poet, she will be attracted towards the shining stars of midnight and the small rivers after listening to their sweet sounds. The face of Lucy will shine after hearing the sound of small rivers. Her personality will be charming and graceful.

In the company of nature, Lucy will change into the graceful figure and into a beautiful lady. Her heart will be filled with extreme joy and happiness. Nature will fill her heart with noble and cheerful thoughts.

In the last lines of the poem, the poet tells, that nature has turned Lucy into a graceful lady but Lucy died at a very young age. Lucy left nature alone. Nature is very sad to think that Lucy will never come again.