At a time like this, we can only reflect.

The World Is Too Much With Us

Related Poem Content Details

William Worsworth

The world is too much with us; late and soon, 

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;— 

Little we see in Nature that is ours; 

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! 

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; 

The winds that will be howling at all hours, 

And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; 

For this, for everything, we are out of tune; 

It moves us not. Great God! I’d rather be 

A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; 

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, 

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; 

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; 

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

   There is much to say at the moment and too many of us are too busy shouting and speaking at cross purposes to make clear sense of the agony of it all. But, please, please be mindful of where we, as observers, who were not involved in any way in the recent appalling atrocities. Please let them grieve and mourn the way they choose and offer help to them as individuals if we are able. Most of us can only look on in fear and sorrow. Yes, of course, we have opinions and we have every right to voice them but instead of spitting vitriol on social media, remember that most of us in this country, whether we were born here or not, are alive in a country that, despite its many - of course there are many -  faults,  allows us to protest without violence. And please do so if you have something useful to say. But please do it with love, dignity and thankfulness.  Think of Jo Cox's simple message  - there is more that unites us than divides us.