World Poetry Day

For one day only – my favourite poem for World Poetry Day…

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 honey-bee,
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 grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

I can never hear this poem without a tear welling in my eye. It epitomises everything I think and feel about the lake – my lake if I can say that without sounding too possessive. If I could build a small cabin there and grow beans and live in the bee loud glade, I like to think I’d be as happy as a sandgirl. Until then, I’ll continue to go there in the mornings to find my peace come dropping slowly.

Happy poetry day!