Full Title: Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood
Poet: William Wordsworth
Written: 1802–1804
Published: 1807 (Poems in Two Volumes)
Poem Type: Ode (Reflective lyric poem)
Tone: Nostalgic, spiritual, hopeful, philosophical
Lines: 204
Stanzas: 11
Meter: Mainly iambic pentameter with variation
Rhyme Scheme: Variable
Theme
- Loss of childhood innocence and divine vision
- Immortality of the soul
- Childhood’s connection with heaven
- Nature as a spiritual guide
Summary
Wordsworth recalls how nature seemed full of divine beauty during his childhood. As he grows older, that heavenly vision fades, causing sadness. However, he finds hope in memory, nature, and faith, believing that the soul is immortal and childhood’s wisdom continues to inspire adult life.
Key Idea
Children possess a divine light that gradually fades with age. Through memory and nature, people can regain spiritual strength and joy.
Author’s Position
Subjective – The poem reflects Wordsworth’s personal feelings and beliefs.
Poet’s Attitude
Hopeful yet sad. The poet mourns the loss of childhood innocence but believes that memory and faith provide lasting comfort.
[ l ]
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem
Apparelled in celestial light,
The glory and the freshness of a dream.
It is not now as it hath been of yore;—
Turn wheresoe\’er I may,
By night or day.
The things which I have seen I now can see no more.
Translation in bangla :
There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream = এক সময় ছিল যখন মাঠ, বনভূমি ও নদী; The earth, and every common sight = পৃথিবী এবং প্রতিটি সাধারণ দৃশ্য; To me did seem = আমার কাছে মনে হতো; Apparelled in celestial light = যেন স্বর্গীয় আলোয় আচ্ছাদিত; The glory and the freshness of a dream = স্বপ্নের গৌরব ও সতেজতা নিয়ে; It is not now as it hath been of yore = এখন আর তা আগের মতো নেই; Turn wheresoe\’er I may = যেদিকেই আমি তাকাই; By night or day = রাত হোক বা দিন; The things which I have seen I now can see no more = আমি আগে যা দেখতাম, এখন আর তা দেখতে পাই না।
Explanation:
Wordsworth recalls his childhood when every part of nature seemed filled with heavenly beauty. Meadows, trees, streams, and even ordinary sights appeared magical because of his innocent and imaginative mind. He describes this beauty as “celestial light”, suggesting that nature looked divine and dreamlike.As he grew older, he lost this special way of seeing the world. Nature is still beautiful, but it no longer gives him the same spiritual joy and wonder. This feeling of loss introduces the central theme of the poem, the contrast between the innocent vision of childhood and the mature outlook of adulthood.
[ll]
The Rainbow comes and goes,
And lovely is the Rose,
The Moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are bare,
Waters on a starry night
Are beautiful and fair;
The sunshine is a glorious birth;
But yet I know, where\’er I go,
That there hath past away a glory from the earth.
Translation in bangla :
The Rainbow comes and goes = রংধনু আসে এবং চলে যায়; And lovely is the Rose = এবং গোলাপ ফুল অত্যন্ত সুন্দর; The Moon doth with delight = চাঁদ আনন্দের সাথে; Look round her when the heavens are bare = আকাশ যখন মেঘশূন্য থাকে তখন চারদিকে তাকায়; Waters on a starry night = তারাভরা রাতে জলরাশি; Are beautiful and fair = সুন্দর ও মনোরম; The sunshine is a glorious birth = সূর্যের আলো এক মহিমান্বিত জন্মের মতো; But yet I know, where\’er I go = কিন্তু তবুও আমি জানি, যেখানেই যাই; That there hath past away a glory from the earth = পৃথিবী থেকে এক মহিমা হারিয়ে গেছে।
Explanation:
Wordsworth says that nature is still beautiful. The rainbow appears and disappears, the rose continues to bloom, the moon shines brightly in the clear sky, the waters sparkle under the stars, and the sunrise remains glorious. These natural scenes still fill him with admiration.Yet, despite all this beauty, the poet feels that something precious has been lost. The heavenly glory that he experienced in childhood is no longer present. Nature has not changed, but his way of seeing it has changed. This reflects the poem’s central idea that adulthood cannot recover the innocent and spiritual vision of childhood.
[lll]
Now, while the birds thus sing a joyous song,
And while the young lambs bound
As to the tabor\’s sound,
To me alone there came a thought of grief:
A timely utterance gave that thought relief,
And I again am strong:
The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep;
No more shall grief of mine the season wrong;
Translation in bangla :
Now, while the birds thus sing a joyous song = এখন, যখন পাখিরা এমন আনন্দময় গান গাইছে; And while the young lambs bound = এবং যখন ছোট মেষশাবকগুলো লাফিয়ে বেড়াচ্ছে; As to the tabor\’s sound = যেন তবলার শব্দের সাথে তাল মিলিয়ে; To me alone there came a thought of grief = শুধু আমার মনে এক দুঃখের চিন্তা এলো; A timely utterance gave that thought relief = সময়োপযোগী উচ্চারণ সেই চিন্তাকে স্বস্তি দিল; And I again am strong = এবং আমি আবার শক্তিশালী হলাম; The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep = পাহাড় থেকে জলপ্রপাতগুলো যেন শিঙার মতো বাজছে; No more shall grief of mine the season wrong = আমার দুঃখ আর এই ঋতুকে নষ্ট করবে না।
Explanation:
Wordsworth describes the joyful atmosphere of spring. The birds are singing happily, the young lambs are jumping playfully, and the waterfalls roar like trumpets. Everything in nature is full of life and celebration.At first, the poet alone feels sad because he remembers the lost glory of his childhood. However, by expressing his sorrow, he finds comfort and regains his strength. He decides that he will no longer allow his personal grief to spoil the beauty and happiness of the spring season. Instead, he chooses to share in nature’s joy.
I hear the Echoes through the mountains throng,
The Winds come to me from the fields of sleep,
And all the earth is gay;
Land and sea
Give themselves up to jollity,
And with the heart of May
Doth every Beast keep holiday;—
Thou Child of Joy,
Shout round me, let me hear thy shouts, thou happy Shepherd-boy.
Translation in bangla :
I hear the Echoes through the mountains throng = আমি পাহাড়ের ভেতর দিয়ে প্রতিধ্বনির ভিড় শুনতে পাই; The Winds come to me from the fields of sleep = বাতাস আমার কাছে আসে ঘুমন্ত মাঠ থেকে; And all the earth is gay = এবং সমগ্র পৃথিবী আনন্দময়; Land and sea = স্থলভূমি ও সমুদ্র; Give themselves up to jollity = আনন্দে আত্মসমর্পণ করেছে; And with the heart of May = মে মাসের প্রাণভরা আবেগ নিয়ে; Doth every Beast keep holiday = প্রতিটি প্রাণীই যেন উৎসব পালন করছে; Thou Child of Joy = হে আনন্দের সন্তান; Shout round me = আমার চারদিকে চিৎকার কর; let me hear thy shouts = আমাকে তোমার ডাক শুনতে দাও; thou happy Shepherd-boy = হে আনন্দিত রাখাল বালক।
Explanation:
In this stanza, Wordsworth describes the cheerful spirit of spring. He hears echoes in the mountains, gentle winds blowing across the quiet fields, and sees both land and sea filled with happiness. Even the wild animals seem to be celebrating the season.The poet is deeply moved by this joyful scene and calls to the shepherd boy, asking him to shout with happiness. By listening to the boy’s cheerful voice, Wordsworth hopes to forget his sorrow and become part of nature’s joy once again.
মূলভাব :
এই কবিতায় উইলিয়াম ওয়ার্ডসওয়ার্থ তাঁর শৈশবের স্মৃতির কথা বলেছেন। ছোটবেলায় প্রকৃতির সবকিছু তাঁর কাছে স্বপ্নের মতো সুন্দর এবং স্বর্গীয় মনে হতো। কিন্তু বড় হওয়ার সঙ্গে সঙ্গে সেই অনুভূতি আর আগের মতো থাকেনি।তবে তিনি শুধু এই পরিবর্তনের জন্য দুঃখ করেন না। তিনি বুঝতে পারেন যে, জীবনের অভিজ্ঞতা, স্মৃতি, দুঃখ-কষ্ট এবং প্রকৃতির প্রতি ভালোবাসা মানুষকে আরও পরিণত ও শক্তিশালী করে তোলে। তাই তিনি অতীতের জন্য শোক না করে বর্তমানের সৌন্দর্যকে গ্রহণ করেন এবং জীবন থেকে নতুন শক্তি ও আশা খুঁজে পান।