“The things which I have seen I now can see no more.”

Childhood innocence is gone. This loss creates sadness and emptiness in his mind.

Loss of Heavenly Light/Visionary Gleam: Another loss is the loss of the visionary gleam. This gleam was a special light that he saw during Childhood. It helped him feel that the world had hidden meaning. He once felt a spiritual glory in the mountains, valleys, rivers, and May mornings. The natural world felt like a dream. But as he grew older, this bright spiritual feeling disappeared. He says,

“There hath past away a glory from the earth.”

He notices that joy around him remains, but the inner light is gone. Even when he sees birds singing or lambs dancing, he feels a shadow inside. The bright sense of mystery no longer guides him. This makes him question, 

“Whither is fled the visionary gleam?

Where is it now?”

Loss of Spiritual Connection: Wordsworth believed that children are close to heaven/God. He says that the Soul comes from God with a holy glow. Infancy is full of heavenly joy. But as the boy grows, the prison house of the world slowly closes around him. When he becomes a Youth and later a Man, the spiritual light weakens. The deep link with his heavenly home grows faint. The man can only see the ordinary world, not the spiritual beauty behind it. This break in spiritual connection is another painful loss.

Recompense through Nature’s Memory: After speaking of loss, Wordsworth shows how Nature gives something back. Nature stores memories of Childhood. When Wordsworth sees meadows, hills, groves, lambs, birds, and morning light, he feels a soft return of early joy. These memories calm his heart. Nature’s gentle power reminds him that Childhood happiness was real and still lives inside him. This memory acts like healing medicine.

Recompense through Philosophic Mind: Growing older brings wisdom. This wisdom is another form of recompense to Wordsworth. He understands that life has sorrow, but sorrow also teaches deep lessons. His mind becomes calm and thoughtful. He gains sympathy for others. He sees beauty in a deeper way. His philosophic mind helps him accept change. It gives him peace that Childhood innocence could not give. He can look at flowers, clouds, and people with mature love. This mature understanding is a rich reward.

Recompense through Immortality of the Soul: The greatest recompense is the belief in the Soul’s immortality. Wordsworth believes that the Soul comes from God and will return to God. He says.

"But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home."

This belief gives him hope. It means that nothing beautiful is truly lost. Childhood joy may fade, but the Soul carries a higher joy. In quiet moments, the Soul can still feel a link to the heavenly world. The Soul can rise above sorrow and find peace in eternal truth.

Wordsworth loses Childhood innocence, the bright gleam, and his early spiritual joy. Yet Nature gives memories, age gives wisdom, and the Soul gives lasting hope. Through loss, he finds deeper strength. Now even a small flower can touch his heart with silent, powerful thoughts.