'The Blessed' by William Butler Yeats
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CUMHAL called out, bending his head,
Till Dathi came and stood,
With a blink in his eyes, at the cave-mouth,
Between the wind and the wood.
And Cumhal said, bending his knees,
"I have come by the windy way
And learn to pray when you pray.
"I can bring you salmon out of the streams
And heron out of the skies."
But Dathi folded his hands and smiled
With the secrets of God in his eyes.
And Cumhal saw like a drifting smoke
All manner of blessed souls,
Women and children, young men with books,
And old men with croziers and stoles.
"praise God and God's Mother,' Dathi said,
"For God and God's Mother have sent
The blessedest souls that walk in the world
To fill your heart with content."
"And which is the blessedest,' Cumhal said,
"Where all are comely and good?
Is it these that with golden thuribles
Are singing about the wood?"
"My eyes are blinking,' Dathi said,
"With the secrets of God half blind,
But I can see where the wind goes
And follow the way of the wind;
"And blessedness goes where the wind goes,
And when it is gone we are dead;
I see the blessedest soul in the world
And he nods a drunken head.
"O blessedness comes in the night and the day
And whither the wise heart knows;
And one has seen in the redness of wine
The Incorruptible Rose,
"That drowsily drops faint leaves on him
And the sweetness of desire,
While time and the world are ebbing away
In twilights of dew and of fire."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Blessed by William Butler Yeats: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh, what a beautiful piece of poetry! The Blessed by William Butler Yeats is a masterpiece that deserves all the attention and praise it has received over the years. This poem is a reflection of Yeats’ deep understanding of human nature and his ability to create imagery that stirs the soul.
Background
First published in 1928, The Blessed is part of Yeats’ collection of poems called The Tower. This collection is considered one of his greatest works, and it is easy to see why. The Tower is a collection of poems that explores themes of love, loss, aging, and death. The Blessed is one of the most popular poems from this collection and is considered a classic.
Literary Analysis
The Blessed is a poem that is rich in imagery and symbolism. Yeats uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of otherworldliness throughout the poem. The poem is structured into three stanzas, each with four lines. Each stanza explores a different aspect of the blessed, with the first stanza focusing on their beauty, the second stanza focusing on their peacefulness, and the final stanza focusing on their power.
The first stanza of The Blessed describes the physical beauty of these beings. Yeats describes them as having “lips like a cherubim” and “hair like a woman’s hair.” This imagery creates a sense of ethereal beauty that is unmatched by anything in the mortal world.
The second stanza of the poem explores the peacefulness of the blessed. Yeats describes them as having “quiet hands” and being “content.” This description creates a sense of calm and serenity that is often associated with spiritual beings.
The final stanza of the poem explores the power of the blessed. Yeats describes them as being able to “bind the waves of the sea” and “hold the wind in their hands.” This imagery creates a sense of awe and reverence for these beings.
Throughout the poem, Yeats uses symbolism to create a sense of otherworldliness. The use of cherubim, angels, and ethereal beauty all contribute to a sense of spirituality that is often associated with the blessed.
Interpretation
The Blessed is a poem that can be interpreted in many ways. Some may see it as a reflection on the afterlife, with the blessed being representative of angels or other spiritual beings. Others may interpret the poem as a commentary on the beauty and power of nature.
One interpretation of the poem is that it represents the human desire for something greater than ourselves. The imagery of the blessed as ethereal beings with great power and beauty creates a sense of longing in the reader. This longing may be interpreted as a desire for connection with something greater than ourselves, whether it be spiritual or natural.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it represents the beauty and power of nature. The imagery of the blessed as being able to “bind the waves of the sea” and “hold the wind in their hands” may be interpreted as a reflection of the power of nature. The description of their beauty may be interpreted as a reflection of the beauty of the natural world.
Regardless of the interpretation, The Blessed is a poem that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Yeats’ use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of otherworldliness that is both beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Blessed is a masterpiece of poetry that deserves all the praise it has received. Yeats’ use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of otherworldliness that is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. The poem may be interpreted in many ways, but regardless of the interpretation, it leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The Blessed is a classic that will continue to be admired for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Blessed: A Poem of Mystical Vision
William Butler Yeats, the Irish poet and playwright, is known for his deep interest in mysticism and the occult. His poem, The Blessed, is a prime example of his fascination with the spiritual realm. The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that explores the themes of transcendence, transformation, and the search for meaning in life.
The Blessed is a poem of mystical vision, in which the speaker experiences a moment of transcendence and sees a vision of the divine. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the vision. The first stanza describes the speaker's ascent to a higher plane of consciousness, where he sees a vision of the divine. The second stanza describes the transformation of the speaker's physical body into a spiritual form, and the third stanza describes the speaker's return to the physical world, where he is transformed by his vision.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his ascent to a higher plane of consciousness. He says that he has "climbed the tower of darkness up to the moving stars" (line 1), suggesting that he has transcended the limitations of the physical world and entered a realm of spiritual enlightenment. He then sees a vision of the divine, which he describes as "a great image in the likeness of a man" (line 3). This image is not a physical manifestation of God, but rather a symbol of the divine presence that the speaker has encountered.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes his transformation into a spiritual form. He says that he has "become a hound of God" (line 9), which is a reference to the medieval concept of the "hound of heaven" – a metaphor for the pursuit of the soul by God. The speaker's transformation is not just physical, but also spiritual. He says that he has "drunk the pure cold light" (line 10), which suggests that he has absorbed the divine essence and become one with it.
The third stanza describes the speaker's return to the physical world, where he is transformed by his vision. He says that he has "come back to this common room" (line 13), which suggests that he has returned to the mundane world of everyday life. However, he is no longer the same person he was before. He has been transformed by his encounter with the divine, and he sees the world in a new light. He says that he sees "the beauty of things" (line 14), which suggests that he has gained a new appreciation for the world around him.
The Blessed is a poem that explores the themes of transcendence, transformation, and the search for meaning in life. The speaker's vision of the divine is not a physical manifestation of God, but rather a symbol of the divine presence that can be encountered through spiritual enlightenment. The poem suggests that the search for meaning in life is not just a matter of finding answers to intellectual questions, but also a matter of transcending the limitations of the physical world and entering a realm of spiritual enlightenment.
In conclusion, The Blessed is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores the themes of transcendence, transformation, and the search for meaning in life. The speaker's vision of the divine is not a physical manifestation of God, but rather a symbol of the divine presence that can be encountered through spiritual enlightenment. The poem suggests that the search for meaning in life is not just a matter of finding answers to intellectual questions, but also a matter of transcending the limitations of the physical world and entering a realm of spiritual enlightenment. The Blessed is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to inspire readers today.
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