Surprised by Joy

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inLadyBudd, Poetry, Sunday Evening Reflection, William WordsworthTags:, , , ,

‘Surprised by Joy’ is a heart-breaking poem written by William Wordsworth when recalling the grief of his daughter, Catherine’s passing. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, with the first eight lines describing his initial shock and disbelief, and the last six lines expressing his deep sorrow and regret.

“Surprised by Joy” is an expressive piece that reflects on the poet’s life and his ability to find joy amidst grief. Wordsworth experienced a great deal of pain throughout his life.  When he writes, “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?” In this passage, Wordsworth expresses surprise at the unexpected joy that came to him even when grieving.  He questions why he can feel joy when his daughter is no longer with him.

William Wordsworth captures the emptiness of grief with words that express a profound understanding of loss.  Yet, there is joy. He reminds us that joy can be found in the most unexpected of places, bringing us back to a time of our most cherished memories.

Surprised by Joy

William Wordsworth

Surprised by joy—impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport—Oh! with whom
But Thee, long 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 grievous 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.

I invite you to join me in reciting Surprised by Joy by William Wordsworth

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

59 thoughts on “Surprised by Joy”

  5. A beautiful, heart-touching poem. I know him as a romantic poet but didn’t know his expression of his daughter’s passing in such a beautiful form. No wonder as he explains his believe: upon being born, human beings move from a perfect, idealised realm into the imperfect, un-ideal earth. Thank you, dear Rebecca.

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    1. I am delighted that you enjoyed the recitation, Alaedin. I just discovered the poem “Surprised by Joy” a few months ago. I had no idea that it was about his daughter and about the grieving process. The title suggests a more light-hearted narrative, but after the first two lines, I knew that it was a profound and deep connection with grief. Thank you for adding to this conversation. Your comments are very much appreciated.

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    1. I am so very sorry for the loss of your daughter, Dave. This is unimaginable grief.

      I have been thinking about grief and grieving this past year. Perhaps I am more introspective with the advancing years. I just finished reading Joan Didion’s book “The Year of Magical Thinking.” She sums up grief in these words “A single person is missing for you, and the whole world is empty.”

      We all know that grieving is part of the human experience. And yet, it is a journey of solitude, the pathway obscured by darkness and uncertainty. What I appreciated about this poem what that William Wordsworth shared his grief journey, and in so doing reminded me that we are not alone.

      Thank you for your support and encouragement of these conversations.

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      1. Thank you very much, Rebecca, for your kind words and for your deep, eloquently expressed thoughts about grief. Yes, being older and losing more people in one’s inner and outer circles can definitely bring on plenty of contemplation about life. Of course, younger people might experience this, too; in my case, my first daughter died when I was 36. Time does help, as can writing about it; my daughter’s short life and 1990 death were a major element in my 2012-published memoir.

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      2. I love your book, “Comic (and Column) Confessional” Dave. I have it by my computer, within easy reach. Your thoughtful and compassionate voice on the issues of Tay-Sachs disease was inspiring and deeply moving. Many people became acquainted with Tay-Sachs because of your courage to share your journey. The forward from Heloise from about your professionalism was spot on. I especially appreciated these words: “When David did his research, he was always careful to dig a little deeper and add just the right tidbit of information that made a story interesting. He has seen and reported on the good, bad, and ugly – while maintaining a professional stance as well as a human one!

        I will be reviewing the book with my sister, Sarah, in the coming year, on The Book Dialogue.

        Comic (and Column) Confessional https://a.co/d/hBeyz1n

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      3. Thanks so much, Rebecca, for the additional kind words! 🙂 I hadn’t realized you had read “Comic (and Column) Confessional.” I greatly appreciate that, and yours and Sarah’s intent to review it on an episode of “The Book Dialogue.” Very generous of you. Heloise is quite a fun and interesting person.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Klausbernd and adding to this conversation. You have mentioned that William Wordsworth was not one of your favourites when we discussed “To a Snowdrop” by William Wordsworth.

      You are not alone. Many people throughout history have had mixed opinions about the poetry of William Wordsworth. While some people have praised him for his use of language and his ability to capture the beauty of nature, others have been less impressed. In particular, many critics have argued that Wordsworth’s poetry is overly sentimental and simplistic. As a result, there are some who simply do not enjoy his work and do not appreciate his style of writing. I read that as a young man, C.S.Lewis, did not like William Wordsworth’s poetry. And yet, he used “Surprised by Joy” as a title to one of his books. Not certain when the change of heart occurred.

      Sending many hugs and love back to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

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      1. Good morning, our dear friend Rebecca,
        we agree that Wordsworth’s texts are simplistic and overly sentimental.
        We visited Wordsworth’s house and blogged about it https://fabfourblog.com/2014/05/23/the-lake-poets/
        We liked how he lived. When we studied the English romantic poets a bit more after our visit, we were amazed about the difference between the German and the English romantic poets. Especially the early German romantic poets like Novalis (Friedrich von Hardenberg) were interested in science (influenced by the romantic philosopher Schelling). Goethe wrote the first international bestseller, his Werther-novel. That’s overly sentimental like Wordsworth’s texts but he was ashamed having written this novel. Later he distanced himself from this kind of literature and didn’t want be seen as as a romantic poet.
        The romantic movement emerged from Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) for which the self-conscious individual was important.
        Anyway, the difference between the German Romantics and the English would an interesting topic of research.
        Lots of love 🥰 and hugs 🤗
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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      2. That would be a brilliant topic of research, Klausbernd. Your recommendation on Andrea Wulf’s book “Magnificent Rebels – The First Romantics and the Invention of Self” is high on my to be read stack of books for 2023.

        I am acquainted with William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats. I am looking forward to exploring the German Romantic poets – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, and Novalis. I continue to learn.

        Many thanks for suggesting this area of exploration. Exciting!!!!

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    2. Dear Rebecca
      The early German romantic philosophers and poets were the first ones who developed the romantic idea. They were also the first ones to use the expression ‘romantic’. It was the French Revolution inspiring them. The English poets studied them, even learned German to understand them and visited them. These early romantic thinkers were quite politically engaged. In their time they were revolutionary. One can’t say that of the English romantic poets.
      I haven’t finished this book about the German Romantics yet but as a student, I had a professor who was the world’s leading specialist for the early romantic movement.
      Wishing our dear friend a happy day.
      Love
      Klausbernd
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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      2. Oh dear, dear Rebecca,
        I am just trying to understand Fichte’s philosophy. Kant and Hegel I know more or less but I have my problems understanding Fichte. Sometimes I have the feeling that I am getting more stupid as older I get. In former times I could understand philosophical concepts immediately but nowadays it’s hard work – nevertheless I like it. In this respect Andrea Wulf’s book is quite a challenge.
        Wishing you a happy day. Hugs and XXX
        Klausbernd
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  9. Thanks for this lovely rendering.

    As you may know, In a book by the same title, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis shares his spiritual journey through his early life, chronicling his conversion to the Christian faith. Book and poetry titles cannot be copyrighted. In the case of Wordsworth and Lewis, it’s probably a good thing. Thanks, Rebecca! 😀

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    1. Thank you for introducing C.S. Lewis to this discussion, Marian. When I was researching the title of his book “Surprised by Joy, I discovered how different titles were bantered about for his books. For example, Screwtape Letters was first called “One Devil to Another.” I can’t imagine any other title than Screwtape Letters! LOL

      But with his book “Surprised by Joy” it came directly from William Wordsworth pome of the same name. Thank you for your visit and for adding to the conversation. Very much appreciated.

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  10. Oh this poem is such a heart breaker, Rebecca. Your video of the snow laden landscape with the background sunlight peeking through is perfectly beautiful for your thoughtful recitation. Wordsworth’s sudden joy and his wish to share it with his daughter brings back his loss but also his profound love. His guilt of forgetting grief, if only for a moment, is palpable. Those brief moments of joy amidst all that sorrow break through and surprise. We can’t stop the sun from shining. Thank you, Rebecca.

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    1. Mary Jo – you have a marvelous way of reminding me that we can’t stop the sun from shining. I especially appreciated your words: “Those brief moments of joy amidst all that sorrow break through and surprise.” I had wondered if I would be able to recite this poem because it speaks directly to the fear of grieving and the emotions of sadness, guilt, anger and regret. Grief is a journey into the unknown, a path that cannot be fully appreciated until the way opens for us. Surprised by Joy reveals William Wordsworth’s journey. And by his words, we understand that we are not alone.

      Sending hugs along with my thanks for your visit and comments.

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    1. I agree, Colleen, “Surprised by Joy” is indeed a mournful lament. While William Wordsworth’s poems are often seen as uplifting and inspiring, I read that some scholars have argued that Wordsworth was in fact a depressive. His poems often reflect a sense of loneliness, despair, and sadness, which could be seen as a reflection of his own inner struggles as well as the loss he experienced during his lifetime. He lived to 80 which was significant in his time. I cannot imagine the grief at losing a child.

      Many thanks for adding to this conversation!!!

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      1. How interesting. I find it difficult to write sad poetry—poignant, heartfelt (I hope), but not gut wrenchingly sad. Only tragedy such as the loss of his child could plunge him to those depths. But the rhythm of his words do much to soothe the pain in this poem.

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    1. Thank you for listening in and for your heartwarming comment, Deborah. When I was going through my father’s photos, I realized how much memories stay with us and sustain us on our continuing journey. It was a reminder to me that I must create joyful memories for those who follow me. I agree wholeheartedly – shared experiences/antics bring much joy.

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  13. Wow! This is such a powerful poem that speaks to the heart. The snow is the perfect backdrop for this particular poem. There is the stark winter-white, and yet, as Mary Jo pointed out earlier, the sun must shine. Thank you for your beautiful reading of this poem and for sharing your insights with us. (I always think about the snow as a blanket; beneath the snow, springtime and new life awaits.)

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    1. Your thoughts about spring waiting beneath the blanket of snow resonated, Linda! This is not an easy poem to recite because it speaks to grief that is part of the human experience – that we will all feel profound loss at some point. William Wordsworth’s world “years unborn” was pivotal in the expression of time’s distance. Many thanks for your visit and comment – very much appreciated.

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    1. I came to this poem late, Liz – just a few months ago. I had a very strange feeling as I recited Surprised by Joy, as if I had arrived back in time. William Wordsworth’s message was clear and eloquent, filled with emotional nuance in every word.

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  15. It is hard to put pen to paper after your beautiful recital of a magnificent poem.
    Grief is such a personal experience, and yet one that most will not escape.
    I am reminded of a quote by Elizabeth 11 -“Grief is the price we pay for Love.”
    And yet I gain solace in Lord Tennyson’s quote – “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

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    1. How very well said, Carolyn. Grief is such a personal experience that all of us must go through. Your quotes were brilliant. Our dear Queen had an extraordinary way of giving comfort. Thank you for including Lord Tennyson’s quote that came from “In MemoriamA.H.H” – a tribute to his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam who had passed away. (I just discovered this poem last year – I have come late to poetry) Poetry has the words that we cannot find.

      Many thanks for your heartwarming comments – very much appreciated. Sending hugs.

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  16. Hi Rebecca, I have visited William Wordsworth’s grave in the Lake District, UK. It is very sad that Catherine’s death was followed 6 months later by her older brother, Thomas’, death. To lose two children in one year must have been horrific.

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    1. I can’t even imagine the horror, Robbie. While I did not find a poem that references Thomas’s passing, I did find a letter that William Wordsworth wrote to his friend that describes his grief.

      “For myself dear Southey I dare not say in what state of mind I am; I loved the Boy with the utmost love of which my soul is capable, and he is taken from me – yet in the agony of my spirit in surrendering such a treasure I feel a thousand times richer than if I had never possessed it. God comfort and save you and all our friends and us all from a repetition of such trials. – O Southey feel for me!”

      https://books.google.com/books/about/Letters_of_Note_Fathers.html?id=WCbGDwAAQBAJ

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      2. It was very sad indeed, Robbie. I found out that Thomas had measles. When I looked further into the history of measles, I found that during the 1800s, many young children sadly succumbed to the highly contagious virus. Young children were were especially at risk. I also that the measles vaccine was first licensed for public use in 1963, many years later.

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    1. I agree, Diana – “ for a moment we forget and life rushes in.”

      Do you remember Maya Angelou’s poem for Nelson Mandela? It starts out with these words:

      “His day is done.
      Is done.
      The news came on the wings of a wind, reluctant to carry its burden.
      Nelson Mandela’s day is done.”

      Maya Angelou captured the essence of time, didn’t she? We, who have been given life for a brief moment, will come to that day as well. And yet, our legacy will remain, held safe in the hearts of those who remember us. Perhaps it is grief that cements the memories that sustain our journey forward.

      Many thanks for your heartening comments.

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  18. This is not a lengthy poem, but it speaks to the heart-as is proven by the comments that follow. Those of us that have suffered the loss of a very dear loved one, can identify with the words and the comments that follow! Perhaps it is the grief that follows intense feelings of loss that gives us the ability to continue with life– and even finding joy after such a profound loss. Life journey for our loved one is over, however perhaps it is the memory of our time with them that gives additional meaning for the rest of our lives! I am sure that others, like me, have found a way to make life more meaningful by recalling our time with our past loved ones!

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    1. “Perhaps it is the grief that follows intense feelings of loss that gives us the ability to continue with life– and even finding joy after such a profound loss.” Those words resonated, Frances. You have given me much to think about. Many thanks🤗🤗🤗

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    1. Many thanks, Resa! I confess that when I read the title, I did not realize what the poem was about. As soon as I started to recite the poem, I realized I had come across a poem that was drawn from a deep grief.

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