101 Poems, Number 40

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

40: “A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal,” in Lyrical Ballads (1800), by William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

It was a course in British Lit—

I was an undergrad.

Our prof just loved to read aloud—

He wasn’t all that bad!*

And so I heard “diurnal” then—

Before I knew the word.

Since I was looking at the page,

I saw what I had heard.

Diurnal? Well, I haven’t found

Too many chances—yet—

To use that word. I should, I know,

For old guys can forget.

Among my fond diurnal tasks?

Reciting this—to me.

And so the words stay in my head—

(For now), in memory.

*Dr. John Martin, Hiram College, 1964.

Link to poem.