– by William Wordsworth
1
A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?
Explanation
The poem opens with the speaker describing a young child who is full of life and energy, almost as if she’s unaware of heavy concepts like death. The speaker wonders how someone so vibrant and innocent could understand something as serious as death. This sets up the contrast between the adult’s perspective and the child’s, which is the heart of the poem.
2
I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.
Explanation
The speaker introduces the main character, a little girl who lives in a cottage. She’s eight years old, and her curly hair makes her seem lively and charming. This description paints her as a typical, innocent child, setting the stage for the conversation that follows.
3
She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad:
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
—Her beauty made me glad.
Explanation
The girl has a natural, almost wild appearance, like she belongs to the countryside. Her clothes are simple, and her beautiful, bright eyes catch the speaker’s attention, making him happy just to look at her. This emphasizes her connection to nature and her innocent charm.
4
“Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?”
“How many? Seven in all,” she said,
And wondering looked at me.
Explanation
The speaker asks the girl how many siblings she has. She confidently says there are seven of them in total, but she looks at him with curiosity, as if wondering why he’s asking. This introduces the key question of the poem and hints that her answer might not align with the speaker’s expectations.
5
“And where are they? I pray you tell.”
She answered, “Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.
Explanation
The speaker asks where her siblings are, and the girl repeats that there are seven. She explains that two live in Conway (a town) and two are sailors at sea. This suggests her family is scattered, but she still counts them all together, showing her sense of family unity.
6
“Two of us in the church-yard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the church-yard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother.”
Explanation
The girl casually reveals that two of her siblings are dead and buried in the churchyard. She adds that she and her mother live in a cottage near the churchyard, close to the graves. Her matter-of-fact tone shows she doesn’t see death as separating her from her siblings—she still counts them as part of the family.
7
“You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be.”
Explanation
The speaker is confused. He repeats her earlier statement about the four living siblings (two in Conway, two at sea) and questions how she can still say there are seven, since two are dead. He’s trying to make logical sense of her math, but the girl’s perspective is different.
8
Then did the little Maid reply,
“Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the church-yard lie,
Beneath the church-yard tree.”
Explanation
The girl calmly repeats that there are seven siblings, including the two who are buried under a tree in the churchyard. Her insistence shows that, to her, death doesn’t reduce the number of her siblings—she still feels connected to them.
9
“You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the church-yard laid,
Then ye are only five.”
Explanation
The speaker tries to reason with her, pointing out that she’s alive and running around, but the two in the churchyard are dead, so there can only be five siblings. He’s focused on the physical reality of life and death, not understanding her emotional or spiritual perspective.
10
“Their graves are green, they may be seen,”
The little Maid replied,
“Twelve steps or more from my mother’s door,
And they are side by side.
Explanation
The girl describes the graves of her siblings, which are close to her home—just a short walk from her mother’s door. She mentions how green and visible the graves are, showing she visits them often and feels a physical closeness to her siblings, even in death.
11
“My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.
Explanation
The girl shares that she spends time at her siblings’ graves, knitting, sewing, and singing to them. This shows how she keeps their memory alive and feels they are still part of her life. Her actions reflect a childlike acceptance of death as a continuation of her bond with them.
12
“And often after sun-set, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.
Explanation
She adds that she sometimes eats her supper at the graves after sunset when the weather is nice. The word “porringer” (a small bowl) makes this scene feel intimate and childlike. It shows how comfortable she is with her siblings’ graves, treating them like a place of connection rather than sadness.
13
“The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.
Explanation
The girl tells the story of her sister Jane, who was the first to die. She describes Jane’s suffering in bed before she passed away, suggesting it was a relief when God ended her pain. The girl’s simple language shows she accepts death as a natural part of life.
14
“So in the church-yard she was laid;
And, when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I.
Explanation
After Jane died, she was buried in the churchyard. The girl and her brother John used to play around Jane’s grave when the weather was dry. This shows how the children integrated their sister’s death into their lives without fear, treating the grave as part of their everyday world.
15
“And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.”
Explanation
The girl explains that her brother John also died later, during a snowy winter when she was playing outside. Now he’s buried next to Jane. Her tone remains calm, showing she accepts his death as she did Jane’s, and she continues to feel close to both.
16
“How many are you, then,” said I,
“If they two are in heaven?”
Quick was the little Maid’s reply,
“O Master! we are seven.”
Explanation
The speaker tries again, pointing out that if the two siblings are dead and in heaven, there can only be five left. But the girl quickly insists, “We are seven.” Her unwavering answer shows she doesn’t separate the living from the dead when counting her family—she sees them all as together.
17
“But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!”
’Twas throwing words away; for still
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, “Nay, we are seven!”
Explanation
Frustrated, the speaker emphasizes that the two siblings are dead and their spirits are in heaven, so they can’t be counted. But the girl refuses to change her answer, firmly saying, “Nay, we are seven!” The speaker realizes he can’t convince her. Her stubbornness reflects her pure, childlike belief that her family remains whole, despite death.
Difficult Words and Their Meanings
- Maid: An old-fashioned word for a young girl.
- Rustic: Simple, rural, or countryside-like; not fancy or city-like.
- Clad: Dressed or clothed, often in a simple or specific way.
- Dwell: To live or stay in a place.
- Church-yard: A graveyard next to a church where people are buried.
- Kerchief: A piece of cloth, like a scarf or handkerchief, often used as a head covering or for sewing.
- Porringer: A small, shallow bowl used for eating food like soup or porridge.
- Nay: An old word meaning “no” or used to disagree firmly.
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