'Down By The Salley Gardens' by William Butler Yeats
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Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Down By The Salley Gardens: A Literary Criticism
William Butler Yeats is a renowned Irish poet who has contributed immensely to the world of literature. One of his most famous poems is "Down By The Salley Gardens," which is a melancholic love poem. The poem is known for its simplicity and elegance, and it has captivated readers for generations.
The Poem
The poem has three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is mostly iambic with occasional trochaic substitutions. The poem is written in the first person, and it tells the story of a man who laments the loss of his love.
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
The first stanza sets the scene for the poem. The speaker and his love met "down by the salley gardens," which is a reference to a traditional Irish folk song. The speaker describes his love's delicate feet, and she advises him to "take love easy," but he is too young and foolish to listen to her.
In a field by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
The second stanza continues the story. The speaker and his love stand in a field by the river, and she places her hand on his shoulder. Again, she advises him to "take life easy," but he is still too young and foolish to understand. The stanza ends with a foreshadowing of the speaker's future regret.
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did part;
She leaned her head upon my chest, and sighed her little heart.
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet.
The final stanza is a repetition of the first, ending the poem with a sense of circularity. The speaker and his love part ways, and she leans her head on his chest before sighing. The speaker is now full of tears, regretting his foolishness and the loss of his love.
Interpretation
The poem explores themes of love, regret, and the passing of time. The speaker's regret at not listening to his love's advice to "take love easy" is palpable throughout the poem. The repeated line "But I was young and foolish" underscores his regret and serves as a reminder of what could have been.
The use of natural imagery, such as the "salley gardens" and the grass growing on the weirs, emphasizes the passing of time and the transience of life. The speaker's love advises him to "take life easy," but the fleeting nature of existence makes it difficult to do so.
The repetition of the first line of the poem in the final stanza creates a sense of circularity and reinforces the idea that the speaker's regret is ongoing. The poem ends where it began, with the speaker alone and full of tears.
The poem's simplicity and elegance make it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. The use of traditional Irish imagery adds to its charm and cultural significance. The poem has been set to music and has been performed by countless musicians, further solidifying its place in the cultural canon.
Conclusion
"Down By The Salley Gardens" is a beautiful and poignant love poem that explores themes of regret, the passing of time, and the transience of life. Yeats' use of natural imagery and traditional Irish themes adds to its charm and cultural significance. The poem's simplicity and elegance have made it a beloved favorite for generations and will continue to captivate readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Down By The Salley Gardens: A Poem of Love and Loss
William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, wrote many poems that have become classics. Among them is the hauntingly beautiful Down By The Salley Gardens, a poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a few simple yet powerful lines. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker recalling a moment when he met a young woman "down by the salley gardens." The salley gardens refer to a place where willow trees grow, and the image of a young woman in such a setting evokes a sense of natural beauty and innocence. The speaker is immediately struck by the woman's beauty and is captivated by her presence. He invites her to come with him and promises to make her a "bed of roses" and "a gown of gold." These lines suggest that the speaker is offering the woman a life of luxury and comfort, which she may not have experienced before.
However, the woman rejects the speaker's offer, saying that she is "lost" and cannot be found. This line is significant because it suggests that the woman is not interested in material possessions or a life of comfort. Instead, she is searching for something deeper and more meaningful. The speaker is left alone, pondering the woman's words and the meaning behind them.
The theme of love and loss is central to the poem. The speaker's love for the woman is evident in his desire to offer her a life of luxury and comfort. However, his love is not reciprocated, and he is left feeling lost and alone. The woman's rejection of the speaker's offer suggests that she is searching for something more profound than material possessions. Perhaps she is searching for love that is genuine and not based on material wealth.
The imagery in the poem is also significant. The salley gardens, with their willow trees, evoke a sense of natural beauty and tranquility. The image of a bed of roses and a gown of gold suggests luxury and comfort. These images contrast with the woman's rejection of the speaker's offer, highlighting the theme of love and loss.
The language of the poem is simple yet powerful. The repetition of the phrase "down by the salley gardens" creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the image of the natural setting. The use of the word "lost" in the woman's rejection of the speaker's offer is significant because it suggests that she is searching for something deeper and more meaningful than material possessions. The use of the phrase "a gown of gold" is also significant because it suggests that the speaker is offering the woman a life of luxury and comfort, which she rejects.
In conclusion, Down By The Salley Gardens is a poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a few simple yet powerful lines. The theme of love and loss is central to the poem, and the imagery and language reinforce this theme. The poem suggests that true love is not based on material possessions but on something deeper and more meaningful. The poem is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotions in a few simple yet powerful lines.
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