William Wordsworth is a celebrated poet the world over and the creator of verses which have soothed and succoured countless thousands of people in their quieter moments. The Ode: Intimations of Immortality; From Recollections of Early Childhood is from a particularly acclaimed period in his career and is amongst the most delightfully innocent works written in the English language. <br><br>Wordsworth emphasised the idea of children’s greater understanding of the ‘the great deep’. An ethereal part of our common experience which allows an openness to communicating and understanding the greater purpose of the universe. Reading a description of the most beautiful aspects of childhood cannot fail to make the reader nostalgic. <br><br>Wordsworth’s enthusiasm for each tiny part of a childhood surrounded by nature mimics nature itself in its abundance and variety. While the work is undoubtedly Christian in influence, the author makes his own conclusions and expresses his understanding of the divine in a way that is accessible to all those with a spiritual imagination. It is a welcome respite from cynicism and gritty realism into a world of our own recollections of childhood, far more even than Wordsworth’s. His imagery is timeless, a baby in arms or an opening flower, what is new is the evocative nature of his poetry. <br><br>Whilst this is a balm for the souls of fans of classic poetry it can bring a small holiday to anyone seeking a brief respite on memory lane along with an almost Daoist interest in the child as a philosopher and conduit of the divine.