I Wish and I Wish — Summary

The speaker is caught up in a daydream of transformation. Over and over, they wish they could become something small and bright in the natural world—a golden bee moving through blue morning air toward the sweet edges of Loch Ciun Ban, or a little green drake, or a silver swan floating on the stream of Aili. The repeated “I wish and I wish” makes the longing feel eager and almost childlike. There is no heavy sadness here; it is more like a joyful restlessness. The creatures they choose all move easily, whether flying or swimming, and the language is full of color and light: gold, blue, green, silver. The mood is airy, playful, and full of yearning for a simpler, freer kind of life in a beautiful landscape. The final “Gaily, gaily!” captures that light, happy energy.