Saturday, March 31, 2012

For Peace Comes Dropping Slow

THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE

By William Butler Yeats

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
1892
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2 comments:

Kate said...

A perfect foil to the headless chicken act. I can see the nine rows of beans and hear the linnet's wings. Even 'tho' I don't know what a linnet's wing sounds like.

This is the most perfect piece of art I've experienced for years.
Thank you

Alden Smith said...

Yes,it is a beautiful poem - and the second time I have posted it.