In memory of my brother, John Wordsworth, commander of the E. I. Company’s ship, ‘the Earl of Abergavenny’, in which he perished by calamitous shipwreck, Feb. 6Th, 1805.

Composed near the Mountain track, that leads from Grasmere through Grisdale Hawes, where it descends towards Patterdale.

Composed 1805.—­Published 1842

[ “Here did we stop; and here looked round,
   While each into himself descends.”

The point is two or three yards below the outlet of Grisedale Tarn, on a foot-road by which a horse may pass to Patterdale—­a ridge of Helvellyn on the left, and the summit of Fairfield on the right.—­I.  F.]

This poem was included among the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”—­Ed.

I The Sheep-boy whistled loud, and lo! 
That instant, startled by the shock,
The Buzzard mounted from the rock
Deliberate and slow: 
Lord of the air, he took his flight; 5
Oh! could he on that woeful night
Have lent his wing, my Brother dear,
For one poor moment’s space to Thee,
And all who struggled with the Sea,
When safety was so near. 10

Ii Thus in the weakness of my heart
I spoke (but let that pang be still)
When rising from the rock at will,
I saw the Bird depart. 
And let me calmly bless the Power 15
That meets me in this unknown Flower,
Affecting type of him I mourn! 
With calmness suffer and believe,
And grieve, and know that I must grieve,
Not cheerless, though forlorn. 20

III Here did we stop; and here looked round
While each into himself descends,
For that last thought of parting Friends
That is not to be found. 
Hidden was Grasmere Vale from sight, 25
Our home and his, his heart’s delight,
His quiet heart’s selected home. 
But time before him melts away,
And he hath feeling of a day
Of blessedness to come. 30

IV Full soon in sorrow did I weep,
Taught that the mutual hope was dust,
In sorrow, but for higher trust,
How miserably deep! 
All vanished in a single word, 35
A breath, a sound, and scarcely heard. 
Sea—­Ship—­drowned—­Shipwreck—­so it came,
The meek, the brave, the good, was gone;
He who had been our living John
Was nothing but a name. 40

V That was indeed a parting! oh,
Glad am I, glad that it is past;
For there were some on whom it cast
Unutterable woe. 
But they as well as I have gains;—­45
From many a humble source, to pains
Like these, there comes a mild release;
Even here I feel it, even this Plant
Is in its beauty ministrant
To comfort and to peace. 50