Words (by William Butler Yeats)
Yeats [by George Charles Beresford, 1911]
Words
by William Butler Yeats
from The Green Helmet and Other Poems (Dundrum: Cuala Press, 1910)
I had this thought a while ago,
'My darling cannot understand
What I have done, or what would do
In this blind bitter land.'
And I grew weary of the sun
Until my thoughts cleared up again,
Remembering that the best I have done
Was done to make it plain;
That every year I have cried, 'At length
My darling understands it all,
Because I have come into my strength,
And words obey my call';
That had she done so who can say
What would have shaken from the sieve?
I might have thrown poor words away
And been content to live.
'My darling cannot understand
What I have done, or what would do
In this blind bitter land.'
And I grew weary of the sun
Until my thoughts cleared up again,
Remembering that the best I have done
Was done to make it plain;
That every year I have cried, 'At length
My darling understands it all,
Because I have come into my strength,
And words obey my call';
That had she done so who can say
What would have shaken from the sieve?
I might have thrown poor words away
And been content to live.
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Posted by Jesus Crisis at 11/23/2011 10:31 AM 
Categories: British, Poetry, Irish, Yeats (William Butler), 1900s
Tags: 1910 W.B. Yeats William Butler Yeats The Green Helmet and Other Poems Irish Literature Irish Poetry British Literature British Poetry
Categories: British, Poetry, Irish, Yeats (William Butler), 1900s
Tags: 1910 W.B. Yeats William Butler Yeats The Green Helmet and Other Poems Irish Literature Irish Poetry British Literature British Poetry
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