Text only  Print this page | E-mail this page| Add to favourites|Suggest similar pages
British Council LearnEnglish Central British Council LearnEnglish Central
learnenglish central poems, image copyright by Paul Millard
this theme
gardens and plants: see article (1) and article (2), game (1), game (2), game (3), game (4), game (5) and game (6). Also, see story (1), story (2) and story (3), poem (1), poem (2) and poem (3). Also, see cartoon (1), cartoon (2) and cartoon (3), some trivia, links (1) and links (2).
poems archive
See previous poems from our archive
e-newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter and receive updates about what's happening on this site.
learn english
Learn English in your country, in the UK or take an exam
i wandered lonely as a cloud
by William Wordsworth

This famous poem by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was inspired by the Spring flower, the yellow, or golden daffodil.

Double-click on any word and see its definition from Cambridge Dictionaries Online.

After reading the poem, try this vocabulary activity with words from the text. Also, try some writing yourself.

You can also listen to this poem:
Download mp3 file or listen on your PC
To download, right-click on the link above, choose 'Save target as', and select where you want to save the file. If you're a using a Mac, simply double-click on the link and use the on-screen window to select the file's destination.
If you want to listen on your PC, just left click and the file will play in your default player. For Mac users, click the link.
(Print poem and do activity on paper) (pdf file - 51 KB)

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

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;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth

Your turn

Do you have a special flower that you associate with feelings and memories? If so, why not write a poem and send it to us.

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland)
Our privacy and copyright statements.
Our Freedom of Information Publications Scheme. Double-click for pop-up dictionary.
 Positive About Disabled People Download Browsealoud