The Solitary Reaper: William Wordsworth

Behold her, single in the field,

Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Reaping and singing by herself;

Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain,

And sings a melancholy strain;

O listen! for the Vale profound

Is overflowing with the sound.

No Nightingale did ever chaunt

More welcome notes to weary bands

Of travellers in some shady haunt,

Among Arabian sands:

A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard

In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,

Breaking the silence of the seas

Among the farthest Hebrides.

Will no one tell me what she sings?—

Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow

For old, unhappy, far-off things,

And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,

Familiar matter of to-day?

Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,

That has been, and may be again?

Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang

As if her song could have no ending;

I saw her singing at her work,

And o'er the sickle bending;—

I listened, motionless and still;

And, as I mounted up the hill,

The music in my heart I bore,

Long after it was heard no more.

Summary: In the poem, 'The Solitary Reaper', the poet describes about a highland lass who is harvesting crops alone. While reaping, she is singing continuously. The poet is enchanted by the song of the girl and stands still and not allowing anybody to make any sort of noise and disturbance. To the poet, the song of the girl is sweeter than and superior to that of the song of the nightingale and the cuckoo bird. The theme of the song is unknown to the poet. Still he thinks it may be a battle in the past or day-to-day life, loss or pain. Though the song is not heard now by the poet, the impact and influence of the song is in the heart of the nature poet.