Daffodils

The Daffodils ["I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" ]

When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow park we saw a few daffodils close to the water side, we fancied that the lake had floated the seed ashore & that the little colony had so sprung up -- But as we went along there were more & yet more & at last under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them along the shore, about the breadth of a country turnpike road. 

I never saw daffodils so beautiful they grew among the mossy stones about & about them, some rested their heads upon these stones as on a pillow for weariness & the rest tossed and reeled and danced & seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the Lake, they looked so gay ever dancing ever changing. This wind blew directly over the lake to them. There was here & there a little knot & a few stragglers a few yards higher up but they were so few as not to disturb the simplicity & unity & life of that one busy highway -- We rested again & again. The Bays were stormy & we heard the waves at different distances & in the middle of the water like the Sea. 

—Dorothy Wordsworth, The Grasmere Journal Thursday, 15 April 1802

"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" [“The Daffodils”] is a lyric poem by William Wordsworth.Wordsworth  born in 1770 is considered one of the two fathers of the British Romantic Movement. In 1789 William Wordsworth  and Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote a collection of poems titled “Lyrical Ballads” which emulated the romantic poems that were becoming increasingly popular in Germany and France.

According to the theory, the poetry originated in "emotions recollected in a state of tranquility"; the poet then surrendered to the emotion, so that the tranquility dissolved, and the emotion remained in the poem. Inspired by the beauty of northern England’s Lake District the poems of William Wordsworth attempted to capture human emotions in words. The explicit emphasize on feeling, simplicity, and the pleasure of beauty over rhetoric, ornament, and formally changed the course of English poetry replacing the elaborate yet regimented classical forms of   Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) and John Dryden (1631 –  1700) with a new Romantic sensibility. Wordsworth's most important legacy, besides his lovely, timeless poems, is his launching of the Romantic era, opening the gates for later writers such as John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelly and Lord Byron in England.

Following the success of Lyrical Ballads and his subsequent poem The Prelude, a massive autobiography in verse form, Wordsworth moved to the stately house at Rydal Mount where he lived, with Dorothy, his wife Mary, and his children, until his death in 1850. Wordsworth became the dominant force in English poetry while still quite a young man, and he lived to be quite old; his later years were marked by an increasing aristocratic temperament and a general alienation from the younger Romantics whose work he had inspired. Byron—the only important poet to become more popular than Wordsworth during Wordsworth’s lifetime—in particular saw him as a kind of sell-out, writing in his sardonic preface to Don Juan that the once-liberal Wordsworth had “turned out a Tory” at last. The last decades of Wordsworth’s life, however, were spent as Poet Laureate of England, and until his death he was widely considered the most important author in England.

The plot of  "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is simple. In the 1815 revision, Wordsworth described it as "rather an elementary feeling and simple impression (approaching to the nature of an ocular spectrum) upon the imaginative faculty, rather than an exertion of it.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Pamela Wolfe notes "The permanence of stars as compared with flowers emphasizes the permanence of memory for the poet." 

Continuous as the stars that shine

and twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line

along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

in such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

what wealth the show to me had brought:

Andrew Motion notes that the final verse replicates in the minds of its readers the very experience it describes.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Whenever the poet is in his ‘pensive mood’ and being ‘vacant’, perhaps emotionally and physically, the good memory of the daffodils flash back to him as a ‘bliss’ and ‘pleasure’, which release him for a while out of the loneliness and ‘solitude’ that he is experiencing. Every human yearns for such locations where they could experience such inspirations. The ancient tropical island of Sri Lanka is abound with such natural attractions, well trodden as well as off the beaten track. Nuwara Eliya of Sri Lanka Holidays Health Triangle is such a location, a highland health sanatorium where you could spend few days during your touring holidays in Sri Lanka.

 Daffodils at Hakgala Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka Holidays Nuwara Eliya.

  Hakgala Gardens, the highest set Botanical Garden in the world

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens was first established in 1861 under the curatorship of William Nock, JK Nock and JJ Nock. It lies under the Hakgala Peak, between 5000 - 6000 feet in elevation - the highest set Botanical Gardens in the world. It boasts 100 year old Monetary Cypress trees from California, Japanese Cedars, Himalayan Pines and English Oak.

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Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport 

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport enables Sri Lanka Holidays tourists to enjoy touring the island beginning in the southern province. The new airport opens up the possibility of a new route:
off at Mattla, Hambantota
begin at Tissamaharama cultural site, enjoy Ruhuna Yala Wild Life Park in the southern coast;
revel in the sunny beaches from Arugambay to Nilaveli, Passikudah and Kalkudah at Trincomalee in the Eastern coast [off season in western coast is the main tourist season in Eastern Coast] ;
reach into the north Central Plains from Trincomalee to tour the ancient capital cities of Polonnaruwa [UNESCO World Heritage Site-WHS], Anuradhapura [WHS], and visit Mihintale, Sigiriya [WHS] and Dambulla [WHS] of Sri Lanka Holidays Cultural Triangle;
make way into the central province to enjoy the sights and sounds of the medieval city of Kandy [WHS];
ascend the hills, the one and only mountain mass of the ancient tropical island from Kandy onwards to the Central Highlands to cool off in the salubrious climate of Sri Lanka Holidays HealthTriangle;
descend from the Central Highlands via Wellawaya close to Budurawagala;
return to Hambantota  for the last night till the departure from Mattala next day.

The development of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is to bring belated justice to Silindu of Beddegama (Sinhala: The Village In The Jungle) of Hambantota district, the peasant, the semi-fictional incarnation of the suppressed, the downtrodden masses of Sri Lanka then called Ceylon, who suffered under the merciless jackboot of British Colonialists during the period of 1815 -1948.

Silindu was brought into the court of justice that was conducted in an alien language called English. The court case was heard and the verdict was given:guilty. Silindu knew not a single vowel of English language. So had been the masses of the colonial Sri Lanka. In the year 1956, with the emergence of the Supreme Leader of the nation, S. W. R. D. Banadaranayake, Sinhala Language was promptly and justly made the language of the state.
Written by bunpeiris

Following is the speech by H. E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka made on the opening of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport on 18th March 2013.

Today is a significant day for us here at Mattala and the entirety of Sri Lanka. I have been given a very special task today which I will perform at the outset. Accordingly, I hereby declare that this March 18 on which day the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport was handed over to the people in keeping with the commitment of the Mahinda Chinthana to make Sri Lanka an aviation hub in Asia as part of the five - fold hubs of development and thereby enhance the service towards the people by inaugurating the first international airport built since independence through our own strength, is declared as Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Service Day. 

Today we mark a new international airport on the world map. What we have built here in Mattala is an airport where even the largest aircraft flying today could land. 

First ever touchdown on 18th March 2013 at HIA Mattala Rajapakse Int'l Airport [MRIA], a gift from China.

After aviation was introduced to the country in 1912, aircraft landed at places such as the Colombo Race Course and Ratmalana airport. Subsequently, due to Second World War, the Katunayake airport was launched in 1940s. 

The national carrier prior to the infamous sale to Emirates had been named Air Lanka and had a logo of stylized ‘Dandu Monara’ [ Sinhala: peacock styled  2-seater aircraft made of wood ] the aircraft of mythological Ravana of Hindu epic Ramayana.[Ramayana has no place, no siginificance at all of Sri Lanka's recorded history that began in 543 BC] The loveliest logo was discarded to embrace the absurd current logo of Diya Baria [Sinhala: water snake] by Peter Hill, then Emirates appointed CEO of Air Lanka. It was Peter Hill who denied the seats to President Rajapakse and his entourage back to Colombo. Following the re acquisition of the National Carrier Peter Hill lost his job, wasn’t hired by Emirates. He went on to open a restaurant.  bunpeiris

Although 50 years have been completed since elevating Katunayake airport as an international airport, we were so far unable to build our own international airport in the country.
 

Sri Lanka is a country that believed in the ‘Dandu Monara’ said to have flown thousands of years ago. We saw a depiction of the ‘Dandu Monara’ at the performance of the Ravana story today. We are a nation that had an awareness of flying machines long before others.

 HIA Mattala Rajapakse Int'l Airport [MRIA], a gift from China.

However, what we saw in the past decades was to insult that great thinking. During the Second World War Colombo and Trincomalee were bombed from the air. 

The Tiger terrorists made repeated attempts to destroy our air power internationally and to stop our aircraft from flying. On several occasions in 1986 and 2001 they carried out bomb attacks on stationary aircraft at Katunayake.

 Tiger terrorists in 1986 and 2001 carried out bomb attacks on stationary aircraft at Katunayake

 The Indian intervention - Parippu Dhal bombing marked a new chapter in our history. 

Now we know . Click the following blue link to read more written by an Indian writer.

Also in 1987, there was a “parippu” drop from the air on Sri Lanka. The LTTE carried out damage costing many millions at Katunayake airport. In addition, the LTTE aircraft bombed Colombo having come from Iranamadu. At that time, there were many warnings from abroad that Sri Lanka was not safe for the stationing of an aircraft leave alone build an international airport.

That was an era when there was so much underestimation of our aviation services that the then leaders of our country even sold our national carrier Air Lanka. 

We were ridiculed in the aviation sector. I recall how, when I had to be in the country to present a budget I could not obtain a ticket to fly back to the country.

That was the situation we were in. I recall declaring to the whole world, from this my Ruhunu birthplace, that through the 2005 Presidential Election, I would bring an honorable peace to the country. Within a few years we were able to bring this honorable peace to the Motherland. Similarly, through the Mahinda Chinthana - Forward Vision, we announced that this country would be made a naval, energy, commercial and knowledge hub as well as an aviation hub to make Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia. 

Accordingly, we have taken the correct path and built an international airport to dispel the darkness that prevailed in the air and illuminate the skies. 

Friends, 

This is the first time an airport is being built solely targeting the development of the country. 

Therefore, when aircraft touch down at Mattala we are able to land development for our country. The value of the corn pods of Wellassa to the sands on the beaches of Magampura will rise because of this airport. 

The Yala sanctuary will more value in the world. This international airport through enhancing the international image of the country will give us added strength to conduct modern sporting events and holding of international conferences. 

This brings the Passekudah beach even closer to the world. We are now developing a country where one can travel to Ampara on one side and Nuwara Eliya on the other within a couple of hours from Mattala. I wish to say that when aircraft take to the sky from Mattala, it is not only value of the South and Uva that will rise but that of Sabaragamuwa and the entire country, too. 

It is not possible to build internationally important development projects such as this solely from internal revenue. It is true that we launch most development projects from the revenue of our own country, but we need international assistance, too. Just as the government of China gave the port, it also assisted in building this beautiful airport. 

Work on constructing huge reservoirs such as Moragahakanda, Weheregala, Rambukkan Oya and Deduru Oya was begun with this country’s own revenue. However, we obtained international loans for completion of this work. We had no hesitation about it and will not hesitate to do so. 

This is a practice followed by other countries too. Even powerful countries do this. It is necessary to obtain loans to build a country. We too obtain such loans and assistance and build many things for the development of the country. Therefore, I express the gratitude of our people and our country to all of you. 

You must be aware of the cart roads that carried salt from the salterns at Hambantota to Badulla. 

I first came to this area with Mr. Lakshman Rajapaksa through the wild elephant populated forests. We came here during the time of last election campaign too. I think the Hon. Speaker also spoke about the situation that prevailed at the time.

There was no water to drink. There were no proper roads. I think the people who have lived in this harsh climate and are able to withstand it, are able to withstand any difficult clime and face up to the most difficult conditions. 

It is in such a place that we cut the first sod to lay the foundation stone for this airport. That was done at the invitation of the Honorable Speaker who was then the Minister of Ports. I ask whether the value of the land today is the same as it was at that time. 

We did not take loans purely for consumption, but for works such as this. It is worth considering the income received through projects such as this hundreds and thousands years in the future. 

Revenue obtained from projects such as this are used to bring relief to the people of this country. We should have more such constructions. Having constructed five ports, the Kerawalapitiya, Norochcholai, Upper Kotmale and Sampoor power stations, expressways, airports and huge irrigation projects the income of these are used for the welfare of the people. 

We have not forgotten the rural cultivators of this land. I think we give a bag of fertilizer at the lowest price of the world. We also provide free health, free education and pay the salaries for more than 1.4 million public servants of this country through our own revenue. One must understand this reality. As I said earlier, we are not ready to take these funds for wasteful consumption and mortgage the land. There is much propaganda when development of this nature takes place. It is now being told that Katunayake will be closed and the material at Katunayake will be brought here. I must make one thing clear. It is that we will not close down anything to build something new. What is stated in the Mahinda Chinthana is to develop what we already have and build what is new. 

Friends, 

We do not build this country according to development methods followed so far. 

We have planted a tree for every tree felled to build this airport. The pattern so far has been for villagers to come to the cities because of the absence of facilities such as power, water, roads, employment and education. Such migration to the towns deprives us of the respect and the freedom we enjoy in the village.

The Buddha has preached Pathiroopa Desa Vasocha (domicile in a suitable locality). To us the city is not a suitable place to live in. What happened was to leave the respectability of the village to be confined in to a concrete jungle. This is what happened in the name of urbanization. 

We have now brought all facilities in the city to the village. You now have water for drinking, electricity, roads, airport and ports. We have built schools and hospitals. Today you can enjoy the facilities of a city and live with the inherent respect of the village. Wherever we carry out development work in the country spread out in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Anuaradhapura, Trincomalee or Batticaloa there is only one request we make of you. 

It is that you protect your freedom, our oneness and our culture. You must protect more and more the ethics and culture that bound us together in our villages. It is my belief that when changes such as this take place in our country we must be aware of new forces that can emerge, and decide to live a qualitative urban livelihood. 

Friends, 

Just as we brought cities to the village we must also take values of the village to the city. The trees and greenery and clean environment of village should be taken to the city. Look at the city of Colombo today. We design the village in keeping with the environment. We develop the country in this manner taking the facilities of the city to the village and the values of the village to the city. This is the best service you could provide for those living in cities. 

Friends, 

Those who never expected an airport to be constructed in an area such as this now see their dreams come true. We will have critics. 

The future generation will answer them. This is an area full of people who are friendly and cooperative. I am very familiar of life among the people in this area, of their hardships and their capabilities. 

We have to carry out major development on our land, sea, and in our skies. The whole world should be brought closer to Sri Lanka. 

The victories of the people of the world could be made even greater in Sri Lanka. 

Friends, 

Although the Air Force camp of the British government handed over to Sri Lanka in 1950, it was a very small number who could enter to the aviation sector. Just as we have built this international airport there will be several domestic airports built in places including Palali, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Iranamadu, Amapara. Then the children from areas such as Monaragala, Hambantota, Sabaragamuwa, Jaffna and Kilinochchi will become pilots and fly above us in the sky. 

Just as the Sri Lankan heroes who carried out dedicated work undergoing great difficulty to build this airport working from a tree house, the expectation of the mothers carrying children and my own is to see our children flying above us. 

What we all seek is to see our children rise above us in their lives. 

My dear daughters and sons, 

We did all this to achieve that goal. I trust you will make full use of this. 

While repeating my gratitude to the government of China for assisting us in this project and sending a special representative for this event, I also extend my good wishes to the new President of China. 

I also extend my thanks to all Chinese and Sri Lankan engineers, staff and all workers who assisted in this task and to the Minister in charge. 

Wish you all a prosperous future. 

May the noble triple gem bless you!

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