1 . Soli tary : exist ing alone.

2 . Yon: young, person or thing.

3 . Highland lass : A girl who l ives in the highlands

4. Reaping: harvest ing

5. Melancholy stra in: A sad song

6. Vale profound: A deep valley .

7 . Chant: Say or s ing prayers

8 . Weary bands : Tired people belonging to the bands .

9 . Shady haunts : A place which is frequently v is ited.

10. Arabian sands : Deserts of Arabia

11 . Hebrides: The group of Islands in the north-west of Scotland.

12. Plaintive numbers: Sad music.

13. Humble lay: Ordinary song

14. Maiden: A young woman usually a virgin

15. Sickle: A tool used to cut weeds

16. Theme: A subject which a person speaks, writes or thinks about.

17. Mounted: Climb up or onto

18. Binds: Tie firmly

The Sol i ta ry Reape r

William Wordsworth

B e h o l d h e r , s i n g l e i n t h e f i e l d ,

Y o n s o l i t a r y H i g h l a n d L a s s !

R e a p i n g a n d s i n g i n g b y h e r s e l f ;

S t o p h e r e , o r g e n t l y p a s s !

A l o n e s h e c u t s a n d b i n d s t h e g r a i n ,

A n d s i n g s a m e l a n c h o l y s t r a i n ;

O l i s t e n ! f o r t h e V a l e p r o f o u n d

I s o v e r f l o w i n g w i t h t h e s o u n d .

N o N i g h t i n g a l e d i d e v e r c h a u n t

M o r e w e l c o m e n o t e s t o w e a r y b a n d s

O f t r a v e l e r s i n s o m e s h a d y h a u n t ,

A m o n g A r a b i a n s a n d s :

A v o i c e s o t h r i l l i n g n e ' e r w a s h e a r d

I n s p r i n g - t i m e f r o m t h e C u c k o o - b i r d ,

B r e a k i n g t h e s i l e n c e o f t h e s e a s

A m o n g t h e f a r t h e s t H e b r i d e s .

W i l l n o o n e t e l l m e w h a t s h e s i n g s ? - -

P e r h a p s t h e p l a i n t i v e n u m b e r s f l o w

F o r o l d , u n h a p p y , f a r - o f f t h i n g s ,

A n d b a t t l e s l o n g a g o :

O r i s i t s o m e m o r e h u m b l e l a y ,

F a m i l i a r m a t t e r o f t o - d a y ?

S o m e n a t u r a l s o r r o w , l o s s , o r p a i n ,

T h a t h a s b e e n , a n d m a y b e a g a i n ?

W h a t e ' e r t h e t h e m e , t h e M a i d e n s a n g

A s i f h e r s o n g c o u l d h a v e n o e n d i n g ;

I s a w h e r s i n g i n g a t h e r w o r k ,

A n d o ' e r t h e s i c k l e b e n d i n g ; - -

I l i s t e n e d , m o t i o n l e s s a n d s t i l l ;

A n d , a s I m o u n t e d u p t h e h i l l ,

T h e m u s i c i n m y h e a r t I b o r e ,

L o n g a f t e r i t w a s h e a r d n o m o r e .