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Ode: Intimations of Immortality

by William Wordsworth

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"Another Race Hath Been, And Other Palms Are Won"

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I love the Brooks which down their channels fret,
Even more than when I tripped lightly as they;
The innocent brightness of a new-born Day Is lovely yet;
The Clouds that gather round the setting sun
Do take a sober colouring from an eye
That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality;
Another race hath been, and other palms are won.
Thanks to the human heart by which we live,
Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears,
To me the meanest flower that blows can give
Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.

In this passage from "Ode: Intimations of Immortality," Wordsworth reflects on the profound changes experience and time have brought to his perception of the world. While acknowledging the loss of youthful wonder, he embraces a deeper appreciation for life’s subtleties. The imagery of "Brooks," "Clouds," and "the meanest flower" symbolizes both the transience and enduring beauty of nature. Wordsworth finds solace in the continuity of human emotions—"tenderness, its joys, and fears"—which grant him insights "too deep for tears." The phrase "another race hath been, and other palms are won" suggests that life’s achievements are varied and ongoing, emphasizing maturity and growth. This passage celebrates resilience, the capacity to find beauty and meaning despite the inevitable passage of time.

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