Nature

Brook! whose society the Poet seeks

by William Wordsworth 1770–1850

From Poetical Works, ed. Knight (1896), vol. IV

Nature

Brook! whose society the Poet seeks,
Intent his wasted spirits to renew;
And whom the curious Painter doth pursue
Through rocky passes, among flowery creeks,
And tracks thee dancing down thy water-breaks;
If wish were mine some type of thee to view,
Thee, and not thee thyself, I would not do
Like Grecian Artists, give thee human cheeks,
Channels for tears; no Naiad should'st thou be,--
Have neither limbs, feet, feathers, joints nor hairs:
It seems the Eternal Soul is clothed in thee
With purer robes than those of flesh and blood,
And hath bestowed on thee a safer good;
Unwearied joy, and life without its cares.

✦ ✦ ✦

Composed 1806?; published 1815.

MLA

Wordsworth, William. “Brook! whose society the Poet seeks.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/218/.

Chicago

Wordsworth, William. “Brook! whose society the Poet seeks.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/218/.

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