Michael: A Pastoral Poem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIHJKLBKFMMMN OPQBMRSTPBUVWPXMYMZ BXA2B2C2MD2QMME2MMF2 MPMA2HMMG2MMMH2I2J2K 2L2PM2MN2O2A2P2Q2 MR2MWS2BJ2T2MU2V2MW2 X2Y2MBZMQBZ2A3MBB3MS C3Z2D3E3 F3BE3E3G3E3E3E3ME3MM PL2E3E3T2MME3WE3E3E2 MYTBBH3 MME3L2XBMV2MMBA2MMHM E3E3E3 SP2E3PBE3I3E3W2E3ME3 J3ME3K3MM L3M3E3E3E3BN3E3E3F2E 3O3P3Q3MMX2 E3MMME3I3XTE3Q L3L2R3 E3XS3E3V2MPT3TMXFE3E 3U3E3MMQPMMP2MUV3Q2K E3V2PMME3M M3R3E3PE3E3E3V2W3E3Q MX3E3 E3E3MQ2I3ME3ME3Z2SMY 3X3E3ME3BE3Z3PE3KR3E 3A4E3E3 A4MB4Z2W2XMMK3PC4MW3 MMKMMZ2E3T T2E3U3XE3SD3I3BE3E3B E3E3MW3U3M BE3E3ML3F3T2E3E3W2E3 XY2SE3E3D4T3MME4F4P2 ME3C4SG4E3T3MME4T3W3 ME3PM3PH4Q2E3BI4E3QJ 4E3E3W2MPI3O3T2PK4L4 E3W3 E3E3E3W2HMM4I3E3QPME 3HSE3MN4PZE3HL4QW2ML 2T3E3MBPE3E3E3V3 O4E3E3E3E3E3MSE3MMME 3P4SME3C2MQT2T3TZ2V2 U3Q2XE3M P2ME3BMMB2ME3I3K3MS3 Y3E3E3BE3H C2Q4E3S3E3E3BE3E3H3E 3E3E3MC2B

If from the public way you turn your steps	A
Up the tumultuous brook of Green head Ghyll	B
You will suppose that with an upright path	C
Your feet must struggle in such bold ascent	D
The pastoral mountains front you face to face	E
But courage for around that boisterous brook	F
The mountains have all opened out themselves	G
And made a hidden valley of their own	H
No habitation can be seen but they	I
Who journey thither find themselves alone	H
With a few sheep with rocks and stones and kites	J
That overhead are sailing in the sky	K
It is in truth an utter solitude	L
Nor should I have made mention of this Dell	B
But for one object which you might pass by	K
Might see and notice not Beside the brook	F
Appears a straggling heap of unhewn stones	M
And to that simple object appertains	M
A story unenriched with strange events	M
Yet not unfit I deem for the fireside	N
Or for the summer shade It was the first	O
Of those domestic tales that spake to me	P
Of Shepherds dwellers in the valleys men	Q
Whom I already loved not verily	B
For their own sakes but for the fields and hills	M
Where was their occupation and abode	R
And hence this Tale while I was yet a Boy	S
Careless of books yet having felt the power	T
Of Nature by the gentle agency	P
Of natural objects led me on to feel	B
For passions that were not my own and think	U
At random and imperfectly indeed	V
On man the heart of man and human life	W
Therefore although it be a history	P
Homely and rude I will relate the same	X
For the delight of a few natural hearts	M
And with yet fonder feeling for the sake	Y
Of youthful Poets who among these hills	M
Will be my second self when I am gone	Z
	-
Upon the forest side in Grasmere Vale	B
There dwelt a Shepherd Michael was his name	X
An old man stout of heart and strong of limb	A2
His bodily frame had been from youth to age	B2
Of an unusual strength his mind was keen	C2
Intense and frugal apt for all affairs	M
And in his shepherd's calling he was prompt	D2
And watchful more than ordinary men	Q
Hence had he learned the meaning of all winds	M
Of blasts of every tone and oftentimes	M
When others heeded not he heard the South	E2
Make subterraneous music like the noise	M
Of bagpipers on distant Highland hills	M
The Shepherd at such warning of his flock	F2
Bethought him and he to himself would say	M
The winds are now devising work for me	P
And truly at all times the storm that drives	M
The traveller to a shelter summoned him	A2
Up to the mountains he had been alone	H
Amid the heart of many thousand mists	M
That came to him and left him on the heights	M
So lived he till his eightieth year was past	G2
And grossly that man errs who should suppose	M
That the green valleys and the streams and rocks	M
Were things indifferent to the Shepherd's thoughts	M
Fields where with cheerful spirits he had breathed	H2
The common air hills which with vigorous step	I2
He had so often climbed which had impressed	J2
So many incidents upon his mind	K2
Of hardship skill or courage joy or fear	L2
Which like a book preserved the memory	P
Of the dumb animals whom he had saved	M2
Had fed or sheltered linking to such acts	M
The certainty of honourable gain	N2
Those fields those hills what could they less had laid	O2
Strong hold on his affections were to him	A2
A pleasurable feeling of blind love	P2
The pleasure which there is in life itself	Q2
	-
His days had not been passed in singleness	M
His Helpmate was a comely matron old	R2
Though younger than himself full twenty years	M
She was a woman of a stirring life	W
Whose heart was in her house two wheels she had	S2
Of antique form this large for spinning wool	B
That small for flax and if one wheel had rest	J2
It was because the other was at work	T2
The Pair had but one inmate in their house	M
An only Child who had been born to them	U2
When Michael telling o'er his years began	V2
To deem that he was old in shepherd's phrase	M
With one foot in the grave This only Son	W2
With two brave sheep dogs tried in many a storm	X2
The one of an inestimable worth	Y2
Made all their household I may truly say	M
That they were as a proverb in the vale	B
For endless industry When day was gone	Z
And from their occupations out of doors	M
The Son and Father were come home even then	Q
Their labour did not cease unless when all	B
Turned to the cleanly supper board and there	Z2
Each with a mess of pottage and skimmed milk	A3
Sat round the basket piled with oaten cakes	M
And their plain home made cheese Yet when the meal	B
Was ended Luke for so the Son was named	B3
And his old Father both betook themselves	M
To such convenient work as might employ	S
Their hands by the fireside perhaps to card	C3
Wool for the Housewife's spindle or repair	Z2
Some injury done to sickle flail or scythe	D3
Or other implement of house or field	E3
	-
Down from the ceiling by the chimney's edge	F3
That in our ancient uncouth country style	B
With huge and black projection overbrowed	E3
Large space beneath as duly as the light	E3
Of day grew dim the Housewife hung a lamp	G3
An aged utensil which had performed	E3
Service beyond all others of its kind	E3
Early at evening did it burn and late	E3
Surviving comrade of uncounted hours	M
Which going by from year to year had found	E3
And left the couple neither gay perhaps	M
Nor cheerful yet with objects and with hopes	M
Living a life of eager industry	P
And now when Luke had reached his eighteenth year	L2
There by the light of this old lamp they sate	E3
Father and Son while far into the night	E3
The Housewife plied her own peculiar work	T2
Making the cottage through the silent hours	M
Murmur as with the sound of summer flies	M
This light was famous in its neighbourhood	E3
And was a public symbol of the life	W
That thrifty Pair had lived For as it chanced	E3
Their cottage on a plot of rising ground	E3
Stood single with large prospect north and south	E2
High into Easedale up to Dunmail Raise	M
And westward to the village near the lake	Y
And from this constant light so regular	T
And so far seen the House itself by all	B
Who dwelt within the limits of the vale	B
Both old and young was named The Evening Star	H3
	-
Thus living on through such a length of years	M
The Shepherd if he loved himself must needs	M
Have loved his Helpmate but to Michael's heart	E3
This son of his old age was yet more dear	L2
Less from instinctive tenderness the same	X
Fond spirit that blindly works in the blood of all	B
Than that a child more than all other gifts	M
That earth can offer to declining man	V2
Brings hope with it and forward looking thoughts	M
And stirrings of inquietude when they	M
By tendency of nature needs must fail	B
Exceeding was the love he bare to him	A2
His heart and his heart's joy For oftentimes	M
Old Michael while he was a babe in arms	M
Had done him female service not alone	H
For pastime and delight as is the use	M
Of fathers but with patient mind enforced	E3
To acts of tenderness and he had rocked	E3
His cradle as with a woman's gentle hand	E3
	-
And in a later time ere yet the Boy	S
Had put on boy's attire did Michael love	P2
Albeit of a stern unbending mind	E3
To have the Young one in his sight when he	P
Wrought in the field or on his shepherd's stool	B
Sate with a fettered sheep before him stretched	E3
Under the large old oak that near his door	I3
Stood single and from matchless depth of shade	E3
Chosen for the Shearer's covert from the sun	W2
Thence in our rustic dialect was called	E3
The Clipping Tree a name which yet it bears	M
There while they two were sitting in the shade	E3
With others round them earnest all and blithe	J3
Would Michael exercise his heart with looks	M
Of fond correction and reproof bestowed	E3
Upon the Child if he disturbed the sheep	K3
By catching at their legs or with his shouts	M
Scared them while they lay still beneath the shears	M
	-
And when by Heaven's good grace the boy grew up	L3
A healthy Lad and carried in his cheek	M3
Two steady roses that were five years old	E3
Then Michael from a winter coppice cut	E3
With his own hand a sapling which he hooped	E3
With iron making it throughout in all	B
Due requisites a perfect shepherd's staff	N3
And gave it to the Boy wherewith equipt	E3
He as a watchman oftentimes was placed	E3
At gate or gap to stem or turn the flock	F2
And to his office prematurely called	E3
There stood the urchin as you will divine	O3
Something between a hindrance and a help	P3
And for this cause not always I believe	Q3
Receiving from his Father hire of praise	M
Though nought was left undone which staff or voice	M
Or looks or threatening gestures could perform	X2
	-
But soon as Luke full ten years old could stand	E3
Against the mountain blasts and to the heights	M
Not fearing toil nor length of weary ways	M
He with his Father daily went and they	M
Were as companions why should I relate	E3
That objects which the Shepherd loved before	I3
Were dearer now that from the Boy there came	X
Feelings and emanations things which were	T
Light to the sun and music to the wind	E3
And that the old Man's heart seemed born again	Q
	-
Thus in his Father's sight the Boy grew up	L3
And now when he had reached his eighteenth year	L2
He was his comfort and his daily hope	R3
	-
While in this sort the simple household lived	E3
From day to day to Michael's ear there came	X
Distressful tidings Long before the time	S3
Of which I speak the Shepherd had been bound	E3
In surety for his brother's son a man	V2
Of an industrious life and ample means	M
But unforeseen misfortunes suddenly	P
Had prest upon him and old Michael now	T3
Was summoned to discharge the forfeiture	T
A grievous penalty but little less	M
Than half his substance This unlooked for claim	X
At the first hearing for a moment took	F
More hope out of his life than he supposed	E3
That any old man ever could have lost	E3
As soon as he had armed himself with strength	U3
To look his trouble in the face it seemed	E3
The Shepherd's sole resource to sell at once	M
A portion of his patrimonial fields	M
Such was his first resolve he thought again	Q
And his heart failed him Isabel said he	P
Two evenings after he had heard the news	M
I have been toiling more than seventy years	M
And in the open sunshine of God's love	P2
Have we all lived yet if these fields of ours	M
Should pass into a stranger's hand I think	U
That I could not lie quiet in my grave	V3
Our lot is a hard lot the sun himself	Q2
Has scarcely been more diligent than I	K
And I have lived to be a fool at last	E3
To my own family An evil man	V2
That was and made an evil choice if he	P
Were false to us and if he were not false	M
There are ten thousand to whom loss like this	M
Had been no sorrow I forgive him but	E3
'Twere better to be dumb than to talk thus	M
	-
When I began my purpose was to speak	M3
Of remedies and of a cheerful hope	R3
Our Luke shall leave us Isabel the land	E3
Shall not go from us and it shall be free	P
He shall possess it free as is the wind	E3
That passes over it We have thou know'st	E3
Another kinsman he will be our friend	E3
In this distress He is a prosperous man	V2
Thriving in trade and Luke to him shall go	W3
And with his kinsman's help and his own thrift	E3
He quickly will repair this loss and then	Q
He may return to us If here he stay	M
What can be done Where every one is poor	X3
What can be gained	E3
	-
At this the old Man paused	E3
And Isabel sat silent for her mind	E3
Was busy looking back into past times	M
There's Richard Bateman thought she to herself	Q2
He was a parish boy at the church door	I3
They made a gathering for him shillings pence	M
And halfpennies wherewith the neighbours bought	E3
A basket which they filled with pedlar's wares	M
And with this basket on his arm the lad	E3
Went up to London found a master there	Z2
Who out of many chose the trusty boy	S
To go and overlook his merchandise	M
Beyond the seas where he grew wondrous rich	Y3
And left estates and monies to the poor	X3
And at his birth place built a chapel floored	E3
With marble which he sent from foreign lands	M
These thoughts and many others of like sort	E3
Passed quickly through the mind of Isabel	B
And her face brightened The old Man was glad	E3
And thus resumed Well Isabel this scheme	Z3
These two days has been meat and drink to me	P
Far more than we have lost is left us yet	E3
We have enough I wish indeed that I	K
Were younger but this hope is a good hope	R3
Make ready Luke's best garments of the best	E3
Buy for him more and let us send him forth	A4
To morrow or the next day or to night	E3
If he could go the boy should go to night	E3
	-
Here Michael ceased and to the fields went forth	A4
With a light heart The Housewife for five days	M
Was restless morn and night and all day long	B4
Wrought on with her best fingers to prepare	Z2
Things needful for the journey of her Son	W2
But Isabel was glad when Sunday came	X
To stop her in her work for when she lay	M
By Michael's side she through the last two nights	M
Heard him how he was troubled in his sleep	K3
And when they rose at morning she could see	P
That all his hopes were gone That day at noon	C4
She said to Luke while they two by themselves	M
Were sitting at the door Thou must not go	W3
We have no other Child but thee to lose	M
None to remember do not go away	M
For if thou leave thy Father he will die	K
The Youth made answer with a jocund voice	M
And Isabel when she had told her fears	M
Recovered heart That evening her best fare	Z2
Did she bring forth and all together sat	E3
Like happy people round a Christmas fire	T
	-
With daylight Isabel resumed her work	T2
And all the ensuing week the house appeared	E3
As cheerful as a grove in Spring at length	U3
The expected letter from their kinsman came	X
With kind assurances that he would do	E3
His utmost for the welfare of the Boy	S
To which requests were added that forthwith	D3
He might be sent to him Ten times or more	I3
The letter was read over Isabel	B
Went forth to show it to the neighbours round	E3
Nor was there at that time on English land	E3
A prouder heart than Luke's When Isabel	B
Had to her house returned the old man said	E3
He shall depart to morrow To this word	E3
The Housewife answered talking much of things	M
Which if at such short notice he should go	W3
Would surely be forgotten But at length	U3
She gave consent and Michael was at ease	M
	-
Near the tumultuous brook of Green head Ghyll	B
In that deep valley Michael had designed	E3
To build a Sheep fold and before he heard	E3
The tidings of his melancholy loss	M
For this same purpose he had gathered up	L3
A heap of stones which by the streamlet's edge	F3
Lay thrown together ready for the work	T2
With Luke that evening thitherward he walked	E3
And soon as they had reached the place he stopped	E3
And thus the old Man spake to him My Son	W2
To morrow thou wilt leave me with full heart	E3
I look upon thee for thou art the same	X
That wert a promise to me ere thy birth	Y2
And all thy life hast been my daily joy	S
I will relate to thee some little part	E3
Of our two histories 'twill do thee good	E3
When thou art from me even if I should touch	D4
On things thou canst not know of After thou	T3
First cam'st into the world as oft befalls	M
To new born infants thou didst sleep away	M
Two days and blessings from thy Father's tongue	E4
Then fell upon thee Day by day passed on	F4
And still I loved thee with increasing love	P2
Never to living ear came sweeter sounds	M
Than when I heard thee by our own fireside	E3
First uttering without words a natural tune	C4
While thou a feeding babe didst in thy joy	S
Sing at thy Mother's breast Month followed month	G4
And in the open fields my life was passed	E3
And on the mountains else I think that thou	T3
Hadst been brought up upon thy Father's knees	M
But we were playmates Luke among these hills	M
As well thou knowest in us the old and young	E4
Have played together nor with me didst thou	T3
Lack any pleasure which a boy can know	W3
Luke had a manly heart but at these words	M
He sobbed aloud The old Man grasped his hand	E3
And said Nay do not take it so I see	P
That these are things of which I need not speak	M3
Even to the utmost I have been to thee	P
A kind and a good Father and herein	H4
I but repay a gift which I myself	Q2
Received at others' hands for though now old	E3
Beyond the common life of man I still	B
Remember them who loved me in my youth	I4
Both of them sleep together here they lived	E3
As all their Forefathers had done and when	Q
At length their time was come they were not loth	J4
To give their bodies to the family mould	E3
I wished that thou should'st live the life they lived	E3
But 'tis a long time to look back my Son	W2
And see so little gain from threescore years	M
These fields were burthened when they came to me	P
Till I was forty years of age not more	I3
Than half of my inheritance was mine	O3
I toiled and toiled God blessed me in my work	T2
And till these three weeks past the land was free	P
It looks as if it never could endure	K4
Another Master Heaven forgive me Luke	L4
If I judge ill for thee but it seems good	E3
That thou should'st go	W3
	-
At this the old Man paused	E3
Then pointing to the stones near which they stood	E3
Thus after a short silence he resumed	E3
This was a work for us and now my Son	W2
It is a work for me But lay one stone	H
Here lay it for me Luke with thine own hands	M
Nay Boy be of good hope we both may live	M4
To see a better day At eighty four	I3
I still am strong and hale do thou thy part	E3
I will do mine I will begin again	Q
With many tasks that were resigned to thee	P
Up to the heights and in among the storms	M
Will I without thee go again and do	E3
All works which I was wont to do alone	H
Before I knew thy face Heaven bless thee Boy	S
Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast	E3
With many hopes it should be so yes yes	M
I knew that thou could'st never have a wish	N4
To leave me Luke thou hast been bound to me	P
Only by links of love when thou art gone	Z
What will be left to us But I forget	E3
My purposes Lay now the corner stone	H
As I requested and hereafter Luke	L4
When thou art gone away should evil men	Q
Be thy companions think of me my Son	W2
And of this moment hither turn thy thoughts	M
And God will strengthen thee amid all fear	L2
And all temptation Luke I pray that thou	T3
May'st bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived	E3
Who being innocent did for that cause	M
Bestir them in good deeds Now fare thee well	B
When thou return'st thou in this place wilt see	P
A work which is not here a covenant	E3
'Twill be between us but whatever fate	E3
Befall thee I shall love thee to the last	E3
And bear thy memory with me to the grave	V3
	-
The Shepherd ended here and Luke stooped down	O4
And as his Father had requested laid	E3
The first stone of the Sheep fold At the sight	E3
The old Man's grief broke from him to his heart	E3
He pressed his Son he kissed him and wept	E3
And to the house together they returned	E3
Hushed was that House in peace or seeming peace	M
Ere the night fell with morrow's dawn the Boy	S
Began his journey and when he had reached	E3
The public way he put on a bold face	M
And all the neighbours as he passed their doors	M
Came forth with wishes and with farewell prayers	M
That followed him till he was out of sight	E3
A good report did from their Kinsman come	P4
Of Luke and his well doing and the Boy	S
Wrote loving letters full of wondrous news	M
Which as the Housewife phrased it were throughout	E3
The prettiest letters that were ever seen	C2
Both parents read them with rejoicing hearts	M
So many months passed on and once again	Q
The Shepherd went about his daily work	T2
With confident and cheerful thoughts and now	T3
Sometimes when he could find a leisure hour	T
He to that valley took his way and there	Z2
Wrought at the Sheep fold Meantime Luke began	V2
To slacken in his duty and at length	U3
He in the dissolute city gave himself	Q2
To evil courses ignominy and shame	X
Fell on him so that he was driven at last	E3
To seek a hiding place beyond the seas	M
	-
There is a comfort in the strength of love	P2
'Twill make a thing endurable which else	M
Would overset the brain or break the heart	E3
I have conversed with more than one who well	B
Remember the old Man and what he was	M
Years after he had heard this heavy news	M
His bodily frame had been from youth to age	B2
Of an unusual strength Among the rocks	M
He went and still looked up to sun and cloud	E3
And listened to the wind and as before	I3
Performed all kinds of labour for his sheep	K3
And for the land his small inheritance	M
And to that hollow dell from time to time	S3
Did he repair to build the Fold of which	Y3
His flock had need 'Tis not forgotten yet	E3
The pity which was then in every heart	E3
For the old Man and 'tis believed by all	B
That many and many a day he thither went	E3
And never lifted up a single stone	H
	-
There by the Sheep fold sometimes was he seen	C2
Sitting alone or with his faithful Dog	Q4
Then old beside him lying at his feet	E3
The length of full seven years from time to time	S3
He at the building of this Sheep fold wrought	E3
And left the work unfinished when he died	E3
Three years or little more did Isabel	B
Survive her Husband at her death the estate	E3
Was sold and went into a stranger's hand	E3
The Cottage which was named The Evening Star	H3
Is gone the ploughshare has been through the ground	E3
On which it stood great changes have been wrought	E3
In all the neighbourhood yet the oak is left	E3
That grew beside their door and the remains	M
Of the unfinished Sheep fold may be seen	C2
Beside the boisterous brook of Green head Ghyll	B

William Wordsworth

Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation

<< London, 1802 Poem Most Sweet It Is Poem>>

Write your comment about Michael: A Pastoral Poem poem by William Wordsworth

Best Poems of William Wordsworth

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 48 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Wonderful Women
by Umaru Kanneh Boima
Freedom To Scratch In Peace
by Olute Aete
Happy New Year
by Felix Menda
Human Beings
by Dana Graslie
Lust
by Wisdom Greatness
An Isolated Tree's Song
by Sayeed Abubakar
A Strange Boy
by Sayeed Abubakar
O Soil
by Sayeed Abubakar
No War, No War-monger
by Sayeed Abubakar
Night's Town
by Sayeed Abubakar

Popular Poets

1. Emily Dickinson(2414 poems)
2. Madison Julius Cawein(1231 poems)
3. Ella Wheeler Wilcox(1136 poems)
4. William Wordsworth(1016 poems)
5. Robert Burns(986 poems)
6. Edgar Albert Guest(945 poems)
7. Thomas Moore(849 poems)
8. Robert Service(831 poems)