1802 - "AMONG ALL LOVELY THINGS MY LOVE HAD BEEN"

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by williamwordsworth

by williamwordsworth

Composed April 12, 1802.--Published 1807

This poem--known in the Wordsworth household as The Glowworm--was written on the 12th of April 1802, during a ride from Middleham to Barnard Castle, and was published in the edition of 1807. It was never reproduced. The "Lucy" of this and other poems was his sister Dorothy. In a letter to Coleridge, written in April 1802, he thus refers to the poem, and to the incident which gave rise to it:--"I parted from M---- on Monday afternoon, about six o'clock, a little on this side Rushyford. Soon after I missed my road in the midst of the storm....Between the beginning of Lord Darlington's park at Raby, and two or three miles beyond Staindrop, I composed the poem the opposite page. I reached Barnard Castle about half-past ten.... The incident of this poem took place about seven years ago between my sister and me."

I think it probable that the "incident" occurred near Racedown, Dorsetshire, where, in the autumn of 1795 Wordsworth settled with his sister. The following is Dorothy's account of the composition of the poem:--"Tuesday, April 20, 1802.--We sate in the orchard and repeated The Glowworm, and other poems. Just when William came to a well, or trough, which there is in Lord Darlington's park, he began to write that poem of The Glowworm; interrupted in going through the town of Staindrop, finished it about two miles and a-half beyond Staindrop. He did not feel the jogging of the horse while he was writing; but, when he had done, he felt the effect of it.... So much for The Glowworm. It was written coming from Middleham, on Monday, April 12, 1802."--ED.

Among all lovely things my Love had been;

Had noted well the stars, all flowers that grew

About her home; but she had never seen

A glow-worm, never one, and this I knew.

While riding near her home one stormy night

A single glow-worm did I chance to espy;

I gave a fervent welcome to the sight,

And from my horse I leapt; great joy had I.

Upon a leaf the glow-worm did I lay,

To bear it with me through the stormy night:

And, as before, it shone without dismay;

Albeit putting forth a fainter light.

When to the dwelling of my Love I came,

I went into the orchard quietly;

And left the glow-worm, blessing it by name,

Laid safely by itself, beneath a tree.

The whole next day I hoped, and hoped with fear;

At night the glow-worm shone beneath the tree;

I led my Lucy to the spot, "Look here,"

Oh! joy it was for her, and joy for me!