Summary of When I set out for Lyonnesse
When I set out for Lyonnesse is a poem about a young novice architect, which is the poet. One day, his work takes him to a parish. The church is being restored so the poet is the one who has to supervise this procedure. The poem tells us about the experience which he goes through during this process. Further, it states that after his return, something inside him changes. It is not just the poet who can notice this but everyone around him. People start noticing a new glow in his eyes now. Moreover, another change was a piece of paper that is sticking out of his pocket. The paper contains the draft of a poem. Thus, it tells us how a single visit brings so many changes in the poet’s life. He feels that it is a new experience for him and he has never felt like this before.
When I set out for Lyonnesse Summary in English
The poem is written by Thomas Hardy and revolves around his visit to a Parish. As the poet is a trainee architect, he goes to supervise the restoration of a church. Little does he know that he is in for a life-changing experience.
The poet leaves for the Parish on a cold evening. It was around a hundred miles away and the shrubbery was all covered in frost. It was a lonely path and the stars were his only company. Moreover, they help in guiding him the way.
In order to oversee the whole process, the poet stays at the Parish for a little while. The poet is not aware at all that he is going to have a life-changing experience at the Parish. However, during that short period of time, he notices some changes happening.
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These are inner changes which he is not expecting at all. The poet is not prepared for all this. He feels that he cannot guess even for the slightest minute that he will be experiencing all this.
Moreover, he even says that not even a prophet or wizard could have predicted these changes. When he returns from his work trip, he feels changed. There is a new glow in his eyes which everyone else can notice as well.
This is the surprising part because while the poet can feel the changes within, everyone can see them too. They feel like he has a radiating positivity about him now. Thus, the poet gives credit to his visit to the Parish for bringing the magical glow in his eyes.
All in all, we see how the poet goes through a major change in his life when he was least expecting it. Thus, it is true that miracles do happen. Moreover, no one can predict their happening.
Conclusion of When I set out for Lyonnesse
The poem is a very insightful piece of work that tells us how things happen to us when we least expect them and that no matter what we plan, there is another plan for us by God which no one can predict.
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