What is William Wordsworth's best poem?

Question

I'm doing a presentation about William Wordsworth, that awesome poet guy, and I'm wondering what his best poem is. Many sources point to "the Prelude", but I'm looking for something else, preferably shorter!

Answer 1

This is probably his most famous. I've actually been to the spot where he was, supposedly, inspired to write it and yes,as it was Springtime, there were daffodils there.

I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud


I WANDERED lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Answer 2

I like the Unremitting Voice of Nightly Streams it reminds me in some ways o Byrons "So We'll Go No More A Roving"

http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/restaurant/techniques/chiffonade.html

Short sweet reflective evocative - synthesis of mans aging and natures unremitting forces gurgling along forever

Answer 3

"The World is Too Much With Us" would be a good one to recite aloud. You can make your voice sound increasingly frustrated until you get to the turning-point of the sonnet where the speaker breaks off and says "Great God! I'd rather....." in a very dramatic way.

Answer 4

That is highly subjective. "Best" when it comes to art forms... completely in the eye of the beholder. Here is a link to his complete works. Start browsing if you're trying to find something a bit shorter...

http://www.bartleby.com/145/wordchrono.html

Good luck!

Answer 5

I vote for -- I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud