Reflections on Having Left a Place of Retirement - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
/Reflections on Having Left a Place of Retirement - Samuel Taylor Coleridge/
A Meditation on Tranquil Seclusion and Moral Duty
Original Poem (English), line by line (selected excerpts for length):
(Note: This poem was first published in 1796, then revised in later editions. The lines below capture its main thematic arc.)
Low was our pretty Cot: our tallest Rose
Peeped at the chamber-window. We could hear
At silent noon, and eve, and early morn,
The Sea’s faint murmur. In the open air
Our myrtles blossomed; and across the porch
Thick jasmin twined: the little landscape round
Was green and woody, and refreshed the eye.
It was a spot which you might aptly call
The Valley of Seclusion! Once I saw
(Hallowing his Sabbath-day by quietness)
A wealthy son of Commerce saunter by,
Bristowa’s citizen: methought it calmed
His thirst of idle gold, and made him muse
With wiser feelings: for he paused, and looked
With a pleased sadness, and gazed all around,
Then eyed our Cottage, and gazed round again,
And sighed, and left the place.
I rose and slowly left
This calm and pure retirement; and my heart
Was strengthened and made quiet. I have since
Found reason to rejoice that I was poor;
For many a groan and ineffectual sigh
Had wafted forth the voice of Fancy sick,
If wealth had been my portion. For the meed
Of penury, and quiet, and content,
Is near akin to happiness, if thought
Make man its nurser. But how rich, how prized
That solitude, which felt the busy stir
Of life, nor shunned it! Let me rather dwell
On that blest mood, when, musing fondly on
Futurity, I saw in humble dreams
A vale of peace and sunshine, where my soul
Might move in light; if not with moral joy,
Yet with calm pleasures and deep harmonies.
Therefore ’tis well that I should ease my heart,
With some soothing words, and cast up a farewell
To these green places. For I must depart,
Entrusting that the duties of the world—
The fierce confederate storm of outward things—
Shall partly melt away; and more endure
The spirit’s searching thought, that looks beyond
The lust of praise or power. Not with disdain,
But clad in meekness and in love, will I
My daily tasks achieve, nor fear the shame
That coldness or misdeeming tongues may fling
On acts of zeal for humankind. So dear
To me the tasks of love and gentleness.
And O that future day, in this same place,
Content at heart, and with a spirit calm
And cheerful, I may come, and find once more
My knowledge with intensest joy revived—
How dear a brother is our quiet heart,
How dear the family of Earthly Love!
In “Reflections on Having Left a Place of Retirement,” Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes a secluded cottage—a haven of serenity where nature’s presence offers solace and clarity. Surrounded by blooming roses, myrtles, and jasmine, the speaker finds a quiet sanctum conducive to contemplation. Coleridge’s details evoke a ‘Valley of Seclusion,’ a spot that, for a moment, seems to stand apart from worldly cares. The poem’s opening underlines how natural beauty and solitude can calm restless thoughts and shift perspectives, even for a wandering city dweller.
However, the poem soon reveals that the speaker has chosen to leave this tranquil life, re-entering society with renewed vigor. Coleridge suggests that material poverty, paradoxically, fosters inner wealth. Because he is not burdened by ‘idle gold,’ he is free to value humility, reflection, and moral purpose. Indeed, such modest living conditions allow him to understand the deeper joys of quietness and contentment.
Yet, Coleridge does not advocate permanent withdrawal from society. Instead, he recognizes that true moral maturity involves actively engaging with humanity’s struggles. Leaving his ‘cottage of retirement,’ he reaffirms his commitment to ‘daily tasks’ of compassion and service, even in the face of potential misunderstanding. The poem’s tension rests between the allure of nature-based solitude and the responsibility to live charitably among others.
Ultimately, the poet imagines returning one day to this place of seclusion with a calm heart, to rediscover how peace can coexist with ethical duty. By blending evocative imagery of pastoral beauty with reflections on spiritual and civic obligations, Coleridge’s poem encapsulates a central Romantic theme: the balance between inward reflection and outward benevolence. Coleridge implies that time spent in nature, far from being an escape, readies the heart and mind for more purposeful service to the world. (Approx. 300 words)
Key points
1. Nature-filled solitude offers emotional and spiritual renewal.
2. True contentment can stem from humble circumstances, free from excessive material concerns.
3. Engagement with society, guided by compassion, is vital—even if solitude is deeply appealing.
4. Inner peace and moral duty form a complementary balance, rather than opposing forces.
5. The poem reflects a Romantic belief in the formative power of nature for fostering humane and ethical action.
