Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth | A Tribute to the Poet William Collins - ThePoemStory

Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth is a tribute to the poet William Collins¹, an 18th-century English poet known for his melancholic yet deeply expressive verse. Written in 1789 and published in 1798, this poem was originally composed alongside Lines Written While Sailing in a Boat at Evening before being separated upon the advice of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem was inspired by Wordsworth’s reflections on the Thames near Richmond, where he envisioned the river as a metaphor for poetic inspiration and the emotional journey of poets.

Collins, who suffered from mental illness and died in obscurity, is remembered here with reverence and sorrow. Wordsworth, influenced by his own deep appreciation for nature and Romantic ideals, uses the peaceful imagery of the Thames to contrast with the turmoil Collins faced in his lifetime. The poem embodies Wordsworth’s belief that poetry and nature are intertwined, offering both solace and reflection.

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The Poem: Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth

Glide gently, thus for ever glide,
O Thames! that other bards may see
As lovely visions by thy side
As now, fair river! come to me.
O glide, fair stream! for ever so,
Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
Till all our minds for ever flow
As thy deep waters now are flowing.

Vain thought!—Yet be as now thou art,
That in thy waters may be seen
The image of a poet’s heart,
How bright, how solemn, how serene!
Such as did once the Poet bless,
Who murmuring here a later ditty,
Could find no refuge from distress
But in the milder grief of pity.

Now let us, as we float along,
For him suspend the dashing oar;
And pray that never child of song
May know that Poet’s sorrows more.
How calm! how still! the only sound,
The dripping of the oar suspended!
—The evening darkness gathers round
By virtue’s holiest Powers attended.
_{~ Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth
A Tribute to the Poet William Collins}

Summary of Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth

The poem begins with Wordsworth addressing the Thames, asking it to glide gently forever so that future poets may be inspired by its beauty, just as he is in the present. He sees the river as a source of visions and creativity, a peaceful and eternal presence. However, he quickly acknowledges that this thought is in vain—while the river’s image remains serene and bright, the realities of life and suffering cannot be ignored.

The second stanza introduces the central theme: the contrast between the tranquility of nature and the struggles of poets like Collins. Wordsworth imagines that the river reflects the soul of the poet—bright, solemn, and serene—just as it once did for Collins. However, Collins found no escape from his inner turmoil except through the gentle sorrow of pity, hinting at his tragic fate.

In the final stanza, Wordsworth urges his fellow travelers to pause their rowing in honor of Collins, suspending movement as a mark of respect. He prays that no future poet should endure the suffering Collins faced. As darkness falls, the poem ends with a sense of reverence and hope, suggesting that the poet’s soul is now at peace, attended by “virtue’s holiest powers.”

Analysis of Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth

Themes
- Nature as a Source of Inspiration: Wordsworth often viewed nature as a guiding force for poets. Here, the Thames represents an eternal, flowing inspiration for poetry.
- The Burden of the Poet: The poem explores the struggles that poets face, especially the melancholic fate of Collins, who suffered from emotional distress.
- Memory and Tribute: This poem serves as a literary eulogy, preserving Collins’s legacy and mourning his hardships.
Imagery and Symbolism
- The gliding river symbolizes the continuous flow of poetic inspiration and the passage of time.
- The reflection of the poet’s heart in the water represents both beauty and sorrow, suggesting that poetry can capture both joy and suffering.
- The suspended oar acts as a metaphor for pausing to reflect on life and honor those who have suffered before us.
Tone and Mood
- The tone is reverential and melancholic, reflecting Wordsworth’s deep respect for Collins.
- The mood transitions from serene admiration of nature to sorrowful remembrance and, finally, to quiet contemplation.
Structure and Style
- The poem consists of four-line stanzas (quatrains) with a rhythmic flow that mirrors the gentle movement of the river.
- The language is simple yet evocative, emphasizing the contrast between nature’s serenity and human suffering.

Conclusion – Remembrance of Collins by William Wordsworth

Remembrance of Collins is a heartfelt tribute that not only honors the memory of William Collins but also reflects Wordsworth’s own poetic philosophy. The poem beautifully captures the Romantic ideals of nature as a source of inspiration while also acknowledging the struggles that come with artistic genius. Through its serene imagery and poignant message, it reminds us of the enduring power of poetry to both celebrate beauty and express sorrow.

William Collins was an influential 18th-century lyric poet whose work bridged the Neoclassical and Romantic periods. Born in Chichester, England, he studied at Winchester College and later at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he published his early works. His Persian Eclogues (1742) and Verses Humbly Address’d to Sir Thomas Hanmer (1743) were well received, but his extravagant lifestyle led to financial difficulties. His Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegoric Subjects (1746), now highly regarded, went largely unnoticed during his lifetime. Collins struggled with mental illness in his later years, leaving his final poem unfinished at his death in 1759. ↩︎