7.09.2010

The Bliss of Solitude

Haven't had any...solitude that is.
Can't seem to find some either.
In the subdivision and the city, there is nowhere to go for solitude.
No escape from people.
I like people, just not all the time.
I would like to go and have some time to myself to just think.
I will have to find a way to do that.
Until I can I will leave you with my favorite poem.

I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude; (the single greatest line ever written)

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
 
Your tired and irritable blogger,
Chris

7 comments:

Retta said...

I love writers that make you "see" what they are writing about... I'm not much of a poem person, but there are some that touch me. This is one.

Thanks for sharing that side of you.
Loretta
=^..^=

Linda Pressman said...

Chris, that is a lovely poem. Who wrote it? Here's to finding some solitude.

Fiona said...

((hugs))
I am glad I live in the outer suburbs so can easily find solitude.

Kim said...

Beautiful poem. :) I never take for granted my times of solitude. It's nice out here where I live in the country. I can go outside late at night on my front porch and only hear frogs, crickets, and summer night sounds. During the winter you can hear nothing late at night outside where I live. If I could put a piece of this in an envelope I'd send it to you friend. :)

Lee said...

Hi, I never knew the meaning or the pleasures of solitude till I retired, stopped reading the papers, and taking time to smell the roses...
Language... has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone.

You have a nice day and keep a song in your heart, best regards, Lee.

Anonymous said...

It is funny you mention this Chris, I have been thinking the same thing. In fact, I told my wife that I might use some of my hotel points from all my travels to go get away for a day. I don't mind her coming, but I need to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. A time to recharge. A time to recalibrate. A time to rejuvenate.

Leslie said...

This is very timely for me, Chris. I just went on a trip to San Antonio for the AA convention (with ~60,000 other folks), but I travelled alone and had my own hotel room. I spent most of the time with friends, but each day there would come a time where I needed to retreat for awhile to just be. Alone. Quiet. Accountable to no one. Friends back here are shocked that I went by myself. But I wasn't alone unless I wanted and needed to be, which travelling alone afforded me.