Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Resolution and Independence," also known as "The Leech Gatherer," is a poem by William Wordsworth, published in 1807. The poem is a meditation on the power of nature to inspire and uplift the human spirit, and it reflects on the themes of determination, perseverance, and hope in the face of adversity.

The poem tells the story of a chance encounter between the speaker and an old man who is gathering leeches from a pond. The old man is described as a humble and hard-working individual who has faced numerous challenges and difficulties in his life. Despite this, he remains determined and persistent, and he serves as a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

Throughout the poem, Wordsworth's language is vivid and poetic, capturing the beauty and power of the natural world. The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each of which reflects on a different aspect of the encounter between the speaker and the leech gatherer.

In the first stanza, the speaker describes the way that the natural world can inspire and uplift the human spirit, saying, "There was a roaring in the wind all night; / The rain came heavily and fell in floods; / But now the sun is rising calm and bright; / The birds are singing in the distant woods; / Over his own sweet voice the Stock-dove broods."

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the encounter with the leech gatherer and reflects on the way that the old man's determination and perseverance have inspired him, saying, "The old Man still stood talking by my side; / But now his voice to me was like a stream / Scarce heard; nor word from word could I divide; / And the whole body of the Man did seem / Like one whom I had met with in a dream."

In the final stanzas, the speaker reflects on the way that the encounter has changed him, saying, "He told his story to me: / And ever since, it hath been mine to mute / The burden of the mystery, and to prove / That not in vain I sought nor laboured vainly."

In conclusion, "Resolution and Independence" is a powerful and moving poem that celebrates the beauty and power of the natural world, and the way that it can inspire and uplift the human spirit. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, and it is a reminder of the importance of taking the time to appreciate and celebrate the beauty of the world around us. The poem is a tribute to the resilience and hope that can be found in the human spirit, even in the midst of challenges and difficulties.

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