The Cloak, The Boat And The Shoes

William Butler Yeats

Birth: 1865-06-13 , Sandymount

Death: 1939-01-28 , Menton

William Butler Yeats was a prominent Irish poet, playwright, and mystic, widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His early work was deeply influenced by Irish mythology and folklore, and he was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival. Over his career, his style evolved, becoming more personal, symbolic, and philosophical, grappling with themes of love, aging, politics, and the spiritual life. Yeats's poetry is characterized by its rich imagery, musicality, and intellectual depth. He explored the complexities of the human condition, the nature of art, and the turbulent history of Ireland. His later works, in particular, are known for their aphoristic power and profound meditations on life and mortality. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923, solidifying his international literary stature.

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The Cloak, The Boat And The Shoes

'What do you make so fair and bright?'

'I make the cloak of Sorrow:
O lovely to see in all men's sight
Shall be the cloak of Sorrow,
In all men's sight.'

'What do you build with sails for flight?'

'I build a boat for Sorrow:
O swift on the seas all day and night
Saileth the rover Sorrow,
All day and night.'

What do you weave with wool so white?'

'I weave the shoes of Sorrow:
Soundless shall be the footfall light
In all men's ears of Sorrow,
Sudden and light.'

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