— It seems a day/(I speak of one from many singled out)/One of those heavenly days that cannot die.”
-- The Speaker (chapter 3)

Importance: What is most significant about these opening lines is the fact that the first line begins midway across the page. As such, the poem itself appears to rise from a meditative silence. This reflects the way in which our memories often come to us sporadically in moments of silent complacency or thoughtlessness. Furthermore, the lines also highlight the importance of memory as a means of preservation, a key concept within the poem.

A little while I stood,/breathing with such suppression of the heart/as joy delights in.”
-- The Speaker (21-23)

Importance: These lines are important because they effectively illustrate the speaker’s sense of awe upon witnessing the natural scene. Here the speaker is so taken aback by the vision of the bower before them that they can do nothing but stand and...