The
Green Linnet
by
William Wordsworth
(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)
The
Green Linnet
Beneath
these fruit-tree boughs that shed
Their
snow-white blossoms on my head,
With
brightest sunshine round me spread
Of
spring’s unclouded weather,
In
this sequestered nook how sweet
To
sit upon my orchard-seat!
And
flowers and birds once more to greet,
My
last year’s friends together.
One
have I marked, the happiest guest
In
all this covert of the blest:
Hail
to Thee, far above the rest
In
joy of voice and pinion!
Thou,
Linnet! in thy green array,
Presiding
Spirit here today,
Dost
lead the revels of the May;
And
this is thy dominion.
While
birds, and butterflies, and flowers
Make
all one band of paramours,
Thou,
ranging up and down the bowers,
Art
sole in thy employment;
A
Life, a Presence like the Air,
Scattering
thy gladness without care,
Too
blest with any one to pair,
Thyself
thy own enjoyment.
Amid
yon tuft of hazel trees,
That
twinkle to the gusty breeze,
Behold
him perched in ecstasies,
Yet
seeming still to hover;
There!
where the flutter of his wings
Upon
his back and body flings
Shadows
and sunny glimmerings,
That
cover him all over.
My
dazzled sight he oft deceives—
A
brother of the dancing leaves;
Then
flits, and from the cottage-eaves
Pours
forth his song in gushes;
As
if by that exulting strain
He
mocked and treated with disdain
The
voiceless Form he chose to feign,
While
fluttering in the bushes.
Summary
William
Wordsworth’s The Green Linnet presents a vivid picture of springtime and the
joy found in observing a single bird, the linnet, in its natural setting. The
poem begins with the speaker seated in a quiet orchard, beneath blossoming
fruit trees. The season is spring, and everything around him glows with
freshness and brightness. The speaker finds delight in being able to once again
greet the flowers and birds, which he calls his “last year’s friends,” as if
nature has returned faithfully to his companionship.
Among
all the creatures that surround him in this pleasant place, one bird stands out
above the rest: the green linnet. The poet greets this bird with admiration,
describing it as the happiest and most joyful presence in the orchard. The
linnet, with its bright green plumage and lively song, seems to preside over
the scene like a spirit of spring itself. The speaker declares that the linnet
leads the “revels of May” and that the orchard seems to be under its dominion.
While
other birds, butterflies, and flowers appear as if bound together in mutual
affection and play, the linnet seems different. It moves about on its own,
fully absorbed in its own life and freedom. The bird scatters gladness
everywhere it goes, without needing a companion, delighting in its own
presence. It seems to embody pure enjoyment, existing contentedly in the
moment.
The
speaker then describes the linnet’s movements more closely. Perched among hazel
trees that shimmer in the breeze, the bird appears almost ecstatic. At times it
seems as though it is hovering rather than resting, for the rapid fluttering of
its wings creates shifting patterns of light and shadow over its body. This
play of brightness and motion dazzles the speaker’s eyes and makes the bird
blend with the trembling leaves, so much so that he mistakes it for part of the
foliage.
The
linnet then shifts its position and sings from the eaves of a nearby cottage.
Its song bursts forth in strong, joyful gushes, as though it were mocking the
silent, leafy form it had imitated while it sat among the bushes. Through its
movements and song, the linnet fills the orchard with energy and life, and the
speaker is left absorbed in watching this small but vibrant creature.
In
this way, The Green Linnet offers a detailed picture of a simple moment in
spring: the poet seated in an orchard, watching one bird whose liveliness,
song, and motion make it stand out above all other forms of life in the scene.
Line-by-line
Paraphrase
Stanza
1
Beneath
these fruit-tree boughs that shed
->
I sit under fruit trees whose branches drop white blossoms.
Their
snow-white blossoms on my head,
->
These blossoms fall like snow upon me.
With
brightest sunshine round me spread
->
Sunshine shines brightly all around.
Of
spring’s unclouded weather,
->
The sky is clear, showing perfect spring weather.
In
this sequestered nook how sweet
->
How pleasant it is in this quiet, hidden spot.
To
sit upon my orchard-seat!
->
I rest on a seat within my orchard.
And
flowers and birds once more to greet,
->
I can greet flowers and birds again.
My last
year’s friends together.
->
They return like old friends from the previous year.
Stanza
2
One
have I marked, the happiest guest
->
I have noticed one creature, the happiest of all visitors.
In
all this covert of the blest:
->
In this sheltered, blessed place.
Hail
to Thee, far above the rest
->
I salute you, for you are greater than all the others.
In
joy of voice and pinion!
->
Your singing and your wings show your joy.
Thou,
Linnet! in thy green array,
->
You, little green linnet bird!
Presiding
Spirit here today,
->
You are like the ruling spirit of this place today.
Dost
lead the revels of the May;
->
You lead the joyful celebrations of springtime.
And
this is thy dominion.
->
This orchard is your kingdom.
Stanza
3
While
birds, and butterflies, and flowers
->
While other birds, butterflies, and flowers
Make
all one band of paramours,
->
Appear to be joined together like lovers.
Thou,
ranging up and down the bowers,
->
You move about freely among the branches.
Art
sole in thy employment;
->
You remain alone in your activity.
A
Life, a Presence like the Air,
->
You are like a living presence, free as air.
Scattering
thy gladness without care,
->
You spread joy everywhere, without worry.
Too
blest with any one to pair,
->
You are too blessed to need a mate.
Thyself
thy own enjoyment.
->
You find delight simply in being yourself.
Stanza
4
Amid
yon tuft of hazel trees,
->
In that cluster of hazel trees,
That
twinkle to the gusty breeze,
->
Which shimmer in the windy air,
Behold
him perched in ecstasies,
->
See him sitting there in delight,
Yet
seeming still to hover;
->
Yet looking as though he is hovering in the air.
There!
where the flutter of his wings
->
His fluttering wings
Upon
his back and body flings
->
Cast shifting light and shadow on his body,
Shadows
and sunny glimmerings,
->
Patterns of brightness and shade,
That
cover him all over.
->
Until his whole body is covered with them.
Stanza
5
My
dazzled sight he oft deceives—
->
He often tricks my eyes, which are dazzled.
A
brother of the dancing leaves;
->
He looks like one of the moving leaves.
Then
flits, and from the cottage-eaves
->
Then he flies and perches on the cottage roof.
Pours
forth his song in gushes;
->
And bursts into loud, joyful song.
As if
by that exulting strain
->
As though, through this triumphant melody,
He
mocked and treated with disdain
->
He is mocking and scorning
The
voiceless Form he chose to feign,
->
The silent leafy shape he pretended to be earlier.
While
fluttering in the bushes.
->
When he sat among the bushes.
Analysis
in Detail
William
Wordsworth’s The Green Linnet is a celebration of nature, spring, and the
joyous vitality of a small bird. At its core, the poem embodies Wordsworth’s
deep attachment to natural scenes and his ability to discover profound delight
in seemingly simple details of the natural world. The linnet becomes both a
symbol and a presence, uniting the season’s energy into one living, fluttering
image.
The
poem begins with the speaker situating himself in a secluded orchard. He is
surrounded by blossoming fruit trees, sunshine, and the freshness of spring
weather. This opening frames the scene as a private sanctuary, a space where
the poet can sit and commune with nature. The sense of returning companionship
is emphasized when the flowers and birds are described as “last year’s
friends,” suggesting that nature is faithful and cyclical, bringing renewal and
familiar joy each spring. Wordsworth creates an atmosphere of comfort,
intimacy, and delight in this reawakening of life.
The
focus soon narrows onto one bird—the green linnet. Out of all the living
creatures, this bird is singled out as the “happiest guest” and is described in
exalted terms. The linnet is hailed as a “Presiding Spirit” and leader of May’s
revels, elevating it beyond an ordinary bird to a kind of guardian or ruler of
spring. This transformation of a common bird into something with spiritual
authority reflects Wordsworth’s Romantic sensibility: the ordinary in nature is
infused with wonder and significance when viewed through the eye of
imagination.
In
the third stanza, the linnet is contrasted with other birds, butterflies, and
flowers, which are portrayed as forming pairs and groups. The linnet, however,
stands apart in its individuality. It does not rely on companionship for joy
but instead radiates delight by its very being. It is described as a “Life, a
Presence like the Air,” suggesting something free, unbound, and all-pervading.
Here, Wordsworth emphasizes the linnet’s self-sufficiency—its ability to be
entirely absorbed in its own existence and to scatter gladness without effort.
The linnet becomes an image of pure, unselfconscious vitality.
The
fourth stanza shifts into a more visual description, capturing the linnet
perched among hazel trees. The bird seems to hover in ecstasy, its wings
casting alternating shadows and glimmers of sunlight across its body. The image
is dazzling to the poet, and the linnet’s fluttering motion makes it appear as
if it blends into the very leaves of the tree. Wordsworth’s attention to this
play of light, motion, and perception shows his keen eye for natural detail and
his fascination with the ways in which nature can deceive, enchant, and blur
boundaries between living things and their surroundings.
Finally,
in the last stanza, the linnet moves to the eaves of a cottage and bursts into
song. Its voice pours forth in energetic gushes, a sound full of exultation.
Wordsworth interprets the linnet’s song almost playfully, as if the bird is
mocking the silent leafy form it had imitated earlier while perching among the
bushes. This moment of contrast between stillness and song highlights the
linnet’s dual nature—both a figure of delicate blending with its environment
and a source of bold, jubilant music.
Overall,
The Green Linnet is more than a simple description of a bird. It is a
reflection of Wordsworth’s Romantic ideals: the reverence for nature, the
transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary, and the belief that deep
joy and spiritual meaning can be found in observing the natural world. The
linnet embodies freedom, individuality, and exuberance, while the orchard
setting offers the poet a space of peace and renewal. In giving such attention
to a single bird, Wordsworth reveals his philosophy that every element of
nature, no matter how small, holds beauty and significance when approached with
attentiveness and imagination.
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