Ode to Intimation of Immortality
In the poem Ode to the Intimation of Immortality, Wordsworth is struggling to develop a long lost connection with nature. He is exploring the beauty of the natural would in an attempt to feel its charm and appeal the same way he could do as a child. But he finds himself at a loss since he is not able to feel any elation and joy with all the beauty surrounding him. Wordsworth knows that as a child he was more in tune with nature and realizes that when we are young, we can connect with nature much more easily simply because we still have memories of heaven alive in our minds. But as we grow older, these memories fade and the reality of the new world takes over. Thus we lose touch with our purer existence of the past and hence our love of nature too. Wordsworth looks at innocent children around him and sees their unmistakable joy and this reminds him of his own childhood. He thus decides not to allow his depression to put a damper on the actual beauty surrounding him and he resolves to enjoy nature as he would do as a child. Children play an important role in the poem as it is their undiluted happiness that makes the poet realize that we have a strong connection with heaven in our early days but as we grow older, we somehow lose that link. He cautions children against growing up too fast. The poet understands that children want to grow up quickly but if he had a second childhood, he would have tried to pause a little and grow up slowly in his attempt to truly savor the nature and its immense beauty. Immortality in this poem refers to the immortal beauty of the nature. While we may come and go, wither away with seasons, but nature stays the same for all generations to enjoy. Its beauty doesn't fade with time. It renews itself every season so people of all ages can appreciate its magnificence. Thus while children grow up and lose their connection with nature, a next generation of children enters to adore and appreciate nature in all its bloom.
