She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam’d upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann’d,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.
Rene Magritte, “Our Daily Bread”
symbolreader 
Reblogged this on lampmagician.
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“And yet a spirit still…” Indeed. This was/is a beautiful read and vision this morning, Monika. Thank you for sharing this selection.
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Very glad to have brought you a beautiful vision, Eric.
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yes, for sure Wordsworth was a very smart guy… 🙂
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I read somewhere that Joyce thought him the greatest of all Romantic poets. May well be!
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Hey Monika,
Ah, Wordsworth’s beautifully evocative delineation of love and marriage promotes such tender thoughts. Magritte’s dreamlike observation is inspired, the perfect accompaniment for such contemplative romanticism.
Namaste
DN – 18/02/2016
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Hello Dewin,
I am delighted to hear from you. Very tender thoughts, indeed.
Thank you
Monika
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Love the layers of clouds in Magritte & layers of observation in Wordsworth. Very much in sync. Unusual in terms of shifting ages, eras, but beautifully so in the juxtaposition.
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Thank you for appreciating the juxtaposition, Steven. I also thought if this as a dialogue across the ages.
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Thanks for sharing, Monika! I love the English Romantics. I actually visited Wordsworth’s cottage while touring through the Lake District in England.
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Lucky you to have been there. Sounds like a dream trip.
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