Poem: The Lake Isle Of Innisfree

The Lake Isle of Innisfree is a famous poem by William Butler Yeats, a renowned Irish poet. Written in 1892, it's a lyrical expression of the author's longing for a peaceful, idyllic retreat.

Yeats often used Irish folklore and mythology as inspiration for his work, and Innisfree is a fictional island that symbolizes a place of tranquility and spiritual renewal. The poem paints a vivid picture of this island, with its beehives, hazel trees, and the gentle lapping of water.

The speaker of the poem expresses a deep desire to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and return to the simple, harmonious existence of Innisfree. This yearning reflects a common theme in Yeats' poetry: the search for a spiritual home and a connection to nature.

Transcript

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, Coming from the vales of the morning to where the cricket sings, Their midnights all a glimmer, And noon a purple glow, An 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 pavement's grey, I hear within the deep heart's core.