There Is Pleasure In The Pathless Woods

- From guest philip (contact)
Only those who have known prolonged isolation can know how meaningful Byron's words - where none intrudes... specially when surrounded by the beauty of nature, whether a lonely shore, mountain top or far at sea.

- From guest David Mills (contact)
I was inspired by this poem when walking 707kms of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela for 'Help for heroes' in June 2008. The trials and tribulations of doing this distance in 27 days was made easier by his eloquent and erudite words.

- From guest Maggie Walsh (contact)
Never read much of Byron before; too much enthralled with Wordsworth. Then, while looking for an appropriate poem to put in a card to a terminally ill friend, I found his "...Pathless Woods" verse. What a rinchness of words! Byron’s beautiful verse will speak for me. When I do visit her, discussing the verse along side her illness will be good for both of us. MW

- I think use of the word interview is brilliant; and demonstrates the greatness of the poet. I think people are only complaining that it doesn't sound right or sounds too modern because it de-romanticises the opening lines. Yet we wouldn't be surprised if John Donne came up with such a remark, so it certainly isn't because it is "too modern". What Byron is saying is that although there is a pleasure in the pathless woods etc., although we are drawn to Nature because Nature is "all I may be, or have been before", there is also a clear disjunct between modern humans and Nature. Byron is asserting the belief that our origins and essence lie in Nature, that we are from Nature, that perhaps we ought to be one with Nature, and that therefore this mingling with the Universe is a pleasurable, wonderful thing. But he is also unsure of the how and the wherefore of his Nature being, using the words "may be". He states that modern humans have tried (with only partial success) to "conceal" their essence and origins. Yet this striving to conceal has presumably led to the disjunct with Nature, which means we can only hold "interviews" with our true selves, that we must attempt to "steal" wisdom and insight which ought to be ours by right, and that we cannot express what we truly are.

Wordsworth, in a short poem which begins "A slumber did my spirit seal" wrote about his soul being "rolled sound in Earth's diurnal course with rocks and stones and trees". It is beautifully evocative and romantic, but it is also somewhat untruthful; for it is impossible for us to be rolled sound in Earth's diurnal course in the same way that, for instance, a wild animal is. Byron recognises that. The first four lines of Byron's verse are beautiful because they are so evocative; the last five lines are beautiful because they are so full of wisdom and insight.

- From guest Lawson Wood (contact)
Incredibly evocative verse - my favourite from Byron. Is Byron trying to be oblique and, a little, controversial/ thought-provoking, in using 'interviews' and 'steal', as opposed to experiences, reflections or feelings and conclude? The final sentence is such an amazingly simple expression of the frustration at not being able to express one's appreciation of life and the Universe. Care and regards, Lawson

- From guest NITIN (contact)
So much heart toching lines. Gives just a glimpse of some paranormal things.Beyond all these materialistic aspects of life, there's something which cannot be expressed in words...Byron so eloquently summarizes the beauty of nature life..A verbatim account ...He's my favorite poet beside Shelly....

- From guest me (contact)
I love this poem. It describes exactly how I feel about nature and the world, although I do like men less and Nature much more(not so much men, but the societies, troubles, and personalities of men) Nature has a distinct, beautiful, and primivite allure that is impossible to ignore.

- From guest Linda (contact)
I am currently reading "The Discovery of Yellowstone Nationa Park" by Nathaniel Langford--a great outdoor adventure story in 1870. He recited this verse as the group struggled through thick timber and fallen trees, brightening their bad moods with some lightness. Only the first line is used in the book, so I had to look up the full quote immediately.