I Was Eight-Years Old When I First Fell In Love With Poetry

Summary

The author discovered a love for poetry at the age of eight through William Wordsworth's poem "To A Butterfly," which resonated with her perception of nature and inspired a future in writing poetry.

Abstract

The author recounts her early education, where she barely retained information except for a poem by William Wordsworth. Despite not being an avid reader until later in life, the poem "To A Butterfly" made a profound impact on her when she was eight years old. This connection to Wordsworth's work, which mirrored her own appreciation for nature, planted the seed for her eventual journey into poetry. Fourteen years later, reflecting on her childhood, she marvels at the prescience of her younger self and expresses gratitude for the poem that foretold her destiny as a poet.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep personal connection to Wordsworth's poem, which she felt saw nature in the same way she did.
Despite not being interested in poetry generally, the author had an affinity for Wordsworth's work.
The author sees her younger self as having a prophetic insight into her future as a poet.
There is a sense of wonder and gratitude towards the poem "To A Butterfly" for inspiring her path in poetry.

I Was Eight-Years Old When I First Fell In Love With Poetry

I never remembered any of my early education.

I only remember one thing. My English text had a poem by William Wordsworth.

I was not much of a reader until I turned 19. I knew nothing about poets and their names.

William Wordsworth is the only name I remembered from my childhood and his poem, “To A Butterfly”.

When I read it in school, something struck me and I said to myself, “He sees nature as I do, maybe one day I will write poems.”

I liked his work even when I never cared about poetry. I liked Poetry even though I didn’t read it.

Fourteen years later, I find myself in poetry.

Wondering about that little girl, how did that eight-year-old know?

What a fortune teller!

To that Butterly, self-poised upon that yellow flower, Thank you!