'He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace' by William Butler Yeats
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I hear the Shadowy Horses, their long manes a-shake,
Their hoofs heavy with tumult, their eyes glimmering white;
The North unfolds above them clinging, creeping night,
The East her hidden joy before the morning break,
The West weeps in pale dew and sighs passing away,
The South is pouring down roses of crimson fire:
O vanity of Sleep, Hope, Dream, endless Desire,
The Horses of Disaster plunge in the heavy clay:
Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat
Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast,
Drowning love's lonely hour in deep twilight of rest,
And hiding their tossing manes and their tumultuous feet.
Editor 1 Interpretation
He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace by W.B. Yeats
Introduction
“He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace” is a love poem written by William Butler Yeats in 1919. The poem centers around the speaker’s desire for his beloved to find peace and rest in death. It is a melancholic and introspective piece that explores themes of loss, grief, and acceptance. This essay will analyze the poem from various perspectives and provide a detailed interpretation of its meaning.
Background
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, born in Dublin in 1865. He was one of the most prominent figures of the 20th century Irish literary revival and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. Yeats was known for his mystical and esoteric writings, drawing inspiration from Irish folklore, mythology, and the occult.
“He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace” was written in 1919, during a period of great personal and political turmoil for Yeats. The First World War had just ended, and he was grieving the loss of several close friends who had died in the conflict. Additionally, Yeats was experiencing difficulties in his personal life, as his marriage to Georgie Hyde-Lees was strained.
Analysis
The poem consists of three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, and the meter is irregular, emphasizing the poem's melancholic tone.
Stanza 1
The first stanza begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, telling her to “be at peace.” He describes her as being “tired” and “afraid,” suggesting that she has been struggling with some kind of internal conflict. The use of the word “tired” implies that she has been fighting for a long time and is ready to give up.
The speaker then tells his beloved that she should “lay aside the burden of long years,” encouraging her to let go of any pain or suffering she may have experienced during her lifetime. The phrase “burden of long years” suggests that the speaker’s beloved has been carrying a heavy weight for a long time and that it is time for her to rest.
The final line of the stanza, “press the feet of the ever-living grapes,” is an interesting one. It can be interpreted in several ways. The “ever-living grapes” may be a reference to the immortality of the soul or the idea that life goes on even after death. Additionally, the image of pressing grapes is a common metaphor for the process of making wine, which can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of the transmutation of the soul.
Stanza 2
The second stanza begins with the speaker acknowledging his own grief, saying that he has “wept for you” and “moaned and cried.” He tells his beloved that he has been “tossed to and fro” and has been “broken by the waves.” The use of water imagery here is significant, as it suggests that the speaker has been struggling to stay afloat in a sea of grief.
The speaker then tells his beloved that he has come to “cleanse the body of the sins of the body and of the mind.” This line can be interpreted in several ways. It may be a reference to the idea of purgatory, where the soul must be cleansed of its sins before it can enter heaven. Alternatively, it may be a reference to the speaker’s own desire to purify himself of his own guilt and grief.
The final line of the stanza, “ancient and holy and grey,” is an interesting one. It may be a reference to the idea of the “eternal soul,” which is ancient and holy and cannot be destroyed by death.
Stanza 3
The third and final stanza begins with the speaker telling his beloved to “fold [her] wings.” This line is significant, as it suggests that the speaker’s beloved is like a bird, who has been flying for a long time and is now ready to rest.
The speaker then tells his beloved that she is “wearied at last” and that she has “come to the end of the way.” This line suggests that the speaker’s beloved has completed her life’s journey and is now ready to move on to the next stage.
The final two lines of the poem, “faint with the transports of [her] earlier passion,” suggest that the speaker’s beloved has lived a full and passionate life. The use of the word “transports” here is significant, as it suggests that the speaker’s beloved has experienced intense emotions and has been carried away by her passions. The use of the word “faint” suggests that she is now exhausted and ready to rest.
Interpretation
“He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace” is a deeply melancholic and introspective poem that explores themes of loss, grief, and acceptance. The poem is written from the perspective of someone who has lost a loved one and is struggling to come to terms with their death.
The speaker’s primary concern is his beloved’s wellbeing, and he encourages her to find peace and rest in death. The poem’s imagery suggests that the speaker’s beloved has been struggling with some kind of internal conflict and that she has been carrying a heavy weight for a long time.
The poem also explores the speaker’s own grief and guilt. He acknowledges that he has been struggling to come to terms with his beloved’s death and that he has been broken by his own emotions. However, he also recognizes the need to cleanse himself of his own sins and purify himself of his own grief.
Finally, the poem suggests that the speaker’s beloved has lived a full and passionate life. The use of water and bird imagery throughout the poem suggests that the speaker’s beloved has been carrying out her life’s journey and is now ready to rest.
Conclusion
“He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace” is a deeply poignant and introspective poem that explores themes of loss, grief, and acceptance. The poem’s imagery and use of symbolism create a melancholic and introspective atmosphere, drawing the reader into the speaker’s world.
Overall, the poem’s message is one of hope and acceptance. The speaker encourages his beloved to find peace and rest in death and recognizes the need to cleanse himself of his own guilt and grief. The poem serves as a reminder that death is a natural part of life and that, ultimately, we must all find peace and rest.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace: A Poem of Love and Loss
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his works continue to inspire and move readers to this day. One of his most famous poems is He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace, a hauntingly beautiful piece that explores the themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death. In this article, we will take a closer look at this classic poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem is written in the form of a dialogue between the speaker and his beloved, who is on her deathbed. The speaker is trying to comfort her and ease her fears as she faces the end of her life. He tells her to be at peace and not to worry about the future, as he will always be with her in spirit. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker addresses his beloved and tells her to "be at peace." He reassures her that she will not be alone in death, as he will be there with her in spirit. The use of the word "beloved" emphasizes the depth of their relationship and the love that they share. The repetition of the phrase "be at peace" reinforces the speaker's desire to comfort his beloved and ease her fears.
In the second stanza, the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of death and the fact that they will eventually be separated. He tells his beloved that they will meet again in the afterlife, where they will be reunited and their love will continue to flourish. The use of the phrase "the end of the world" emphasizes the finality of death and the fact that it is a natural part of the cycle of life. The repetition of the word "meet" reinforces the speaker's belief in the afterlife and his hope for a reunion with his beloved.
The third and final stanza is the most poignant and emotional of the poem. The speaker tells his beloved that he will always remember her and that her memory will live on in his heart. He asks her to forgive him for any mistakes he may have made in their relationship and to remember the good times they shared. The use of the phrase "the world's end" emphasizes the finality of death and the fact that their time together is limited. The repetition of the word "remember" reinforces the speaker's desire to keep his beloved's memory alive.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery and symbolism. The phrase "the end of the world" is a powerful metaphor for death and the finality of life. The use of the word "beloved" emphasizes the depth of the speaker's love and the importance of their relationship. The repetition of the phrase "be at peace" reinforces the speaker's desire to comfort his beloved and ease her fears. The use of the word "meet" emphasizes the speaker's belief in the afterlife and his hope for a reunion with his beloved.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and rhyme. The repetition of the phrase "be at peace" and the word "remember" creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the poem's central themes. The use of alliteration in phrases such as "the world's end" and "mistakes I made" adds to the poem's musicality and emphasizes the importance of certain words and phrases.
In conclusion, He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death. The speaker's desire to comfort his beloved and ease her fears is evident throughout the poem, and his belief in the afterlife and hope for a reunion with his beloved adds to its emotional impact. The poem's use of imagery, symbolism, and literary devices creates a sense of rhythm and musicality that adds to its beauty and power. Overall, He Bids His Beloved Be At Peace is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
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