Welcome back to the Daily Poem here in the Close Reeds Podcast Network.

I'm David Kern.

Today's poem is by William Wordsworth, who lived from 1770 to 1850 and was certainly one of the most important poets of the English language.

He was a romantic poet and was the poet laureate of the

United Kingdom from 1843 to 1850, and interestingly was succeeded by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

The poem that I'm going to read today, the poem that I'm going to read today is called Lines

written in early spring.

It was written in April of 1798.

And so he was 28 years old when he wrote this with much of his career still ahead of him.

This is how it goes.

I heard a thousand blended notes while in a grove I say it reclined, in that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did nature link the human soul that

threw me ran, and much it grieved my heart to think what man has made of man. Through primrose tufts in that green bower the periwinkle

trailed its wreaths, and tis my faith that every flower enjoys the arid breathes. The birds around me

hopped and played, their thoughts I cannot measure, but the least motion which they made,

it seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan

to catch the breezy air,

and I must think, do all I can,

that there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,

if such be nature's holy plan,

have I not reason to lament what man has made of man?

...