Surprised by Joy by William Wordsworth
Surprised by Joy
by William Wordsworth
Surprised by joy, impatient as the wind,
I turned to share the transport, — oh, with whom?
But thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find.
Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind —
But how could I forget thee? Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievious loss? That thought’s return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more;
That neither present time nor years unborn
Could to my sight that heavenly face restore.
![This chalk drawing of William Wordworth was made by Benjamin Robert Haydon in 1818; the image comes from the National Portrait Gallery in London.](https://i0.wp.com/www.excellence-in-literature.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/mw06931WWordworthNPG3687-224x300.jpg?resize=224%2C300&ssl=1)
William Wordsworth
by Benjamin Robert Haydon
chalk, 1818 (NPG 3687)
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Creative Commons License