Lyric Poem · Peace

On A Portrait Of Wordsworth

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Reading room

1WORDSWORTH upon Helvellyn ! Let the cloud

2Ebb audibly along the mountain-wind,

3Then break against the rock, and show behind

4The lowland valleys floating up to crowd

5The sense with beauty. He with forehead bowed

6And humble-lidded eyes, as one inclined

7Before the sovran thought of his own mind,

8And very meek with inspirations proud,

9Takes here his rightful place as poet-priest

10By the high altar, singing prayer and prayer

11To the higher Heavens. A noble vision free

12Our Haydon's hand has flung out from the mist:

13No portrait this, with Academic air !

14This is the poet and his poetry.

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“On A Portrait Of Wordsworth” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning — quilloak.com/poems/on-a-portrait-of-wordsworth

Quick facts

Poem: On A Portrait Of Wordsworth
Poet: Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Length: 14 lines
Form: Lyric Poem
Themes: Peace, Nature

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Shape: 14 lines · 2 stanzas of 4–10 lines
Line length: Mostly 10-syllable lines (pentameter length).

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Author record: Elizabeth Barrett Browning1806–1861
Source record: PoetryDBOn A Portrait Of Wordsworth by elizabeth-barrett-browning, PoetryDB transcription
Display decision: Full text · United States · reviewed 2026-07-18
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Lyric Poem Peace Nature

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