My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
This poem “My Heart Leaps Up” was written by William Wordsworth, in 1802. It consists of nine lines. The poem begins with the line, “My heart leaps up when I behold/A rainbow in the sky”. The image of the rainbow symbolizes the beauty and wonder of nature that fills the poet with joy. The central idea of the poem revolves around the strong connection between beautiful images of the rainbow in childhood. How beautiful images of something we felt in our life became meaningful thought of one’s life, and lasting impressions across different stages of life. The main idea tells us importance of preserving nature and joy of childhood. Wordsworth uses a vivid imagery to convey a message of beauty of nature and childhood. The poet also used an idiom, “The child is a father of man”. The poem is concise but impactful, with a simple and straightforward structure that mirrors it’s theme of natural beauty and emotional clarity .