'Running To Paradise' by William Butler Yeats
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As I came over Windy Gap
They threw a halfpenny into my cap.
For I am running to paradise;
And all that I need do is to wish
And somebody puts his hand in the dish
To throw me a bit of salted fish:
i{And there the king is but as the beggar.}
My brother Mourteen is worn out
With skelping his big brawling lout,
And I am running to paradise;
A poor life, do what he can,
And though he keep a dog and a gun,
A serving-maid and a serving-man:
i{And there the king is but as the beggar.}
Poor men have grown to be rich men,
And rich men grown to be poor again,
And I am running to paradise;
And many a darling wit's grown dull
That tossed a bare heel when at school,
Now it has filled a old sock full:
i{And there the king is but as the beggar.}
The wind is old and still at play
While I must hurty upon my way.
For I am running to paradise;
Yet never have I lit on a friend
To take my fancy like the wind
That nobody can buy or bind:
i{And there the king is but as the beggar.}
Editor 1 Interpretation
Running to Paradise by William Butler Yeats: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
Are you a lover of poetry? If you are, then William Butler Yeats is a name that you must be familiar with. He is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century and his poetry has captured the hearts and minds of readers for generations. Today, I want to discuss one of his most iconic works, "Running to Paradise." This poem is a masterful display of poetic imagery and it tells a story of the human desire for perfection and the ultimate quest for paradise.
The Poem in Context
"Running to Paradise" was first published in 1933, two years before Yeats' death. It was part of a collection of poems called "The Winding Stair and Other Poems" and it was one of the last poems he ever wrote. The poem is composed of four stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC and each stanza follows this pattern. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which gives it a flowing and rhythmic quality.
The Poem's Theme
The theme of "Running to Paradise" is the human desire for perfection and the ultimate quest for paradise. The poem tells the story of a man who is searching for a perfect and idyllic place, which he calls "paradise." The speaker describes this place in vivid detail, using poetic imagery to create a picture of a place that is beyond our wildest dreams.
The Poem's Literary Devices
The poem is full of literary devices that add to its beauty and power. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. Yeats uses vivid, descriptive language to paint a picture of paradise in the mind of the reader. For example, in the first stanza, he writes:
"Where dips the rocky highland Of Sleuth Wood in the lake, There lies a leafy island Where flapping herons wake The drowsy water-rats; There we've hid our faery vats"
In these lines, Yeats describes the island where paradise is located. He uses words like "leafy" and "flapping" to create a lush and vibrant image of the island. He also mentions "faery vats," which adds a mystical and magical element to the poem.
Another literary device used in the poem is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Yeats uses alliteration to create a musical quality to the poem. In the first stanza, he writes:
"Where dips the rocky highland Of Sleuth Wood in the lake"
In these lines, the "w" sound is repeated in "where," "wood," and "lake." This creates a smooth and flowing sound that adds to the poem's musical quality.
Yeats also uses personification in the poem. Personification is when human qualities or actions are given to non-human entities. In the second stanza, he writes:
"Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping Than you can understand."
In these lines, Yeats personifies the world by giving it the ability to weep. This adds an emotional element to the poem and creates a sense of empathy for the human desire for paradise.
The Poem's Message
The message of the poem is that the quest for perfection and paradise is a futile one. The speaker describes paradise as a place that is beyond our reach and unattainable. He says:
"Yet now, may every gentle stirring breeze Detain thee on thy way; Sleep in the arms of destiny Lest the dark forest swallow up thy way."
In these lines, the speaker warns the man not to continue his search for paradise. He tells him to "sleep in the arms of destiny," which suggests that the search for perfection is a fruitless endeavor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Running to Paradise" is a masterpiece of poetic imagery. Yeats uses vivid language and literary devices to create a picture of paradise that is beyond our wildest dreams. However, the poem's message is that the quest for perfection is a futile one. The speaker warns the man not to continue his search for paradise, suggesting that the search for perfection is a fruitless endeavor. Overall, "Running to Paradise" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Running To Paradise: A Journey Through Yeats' Masterpiece
William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, wrote Poetry Running To Paradise in 1933. This poem is a masterpiece that explores the themes of love, death, and the search for paradise. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the line, "And nodding by the fire, take down this book." This line sets the tone for the entire poem, which is contemplative and reflective. The speaker is asking the reader to take a moment to reflect on the beauty of life and the world around us. The image of someone nodding by the fire is one of comfort and relaxation, which suggests that the speaker wants the reader to feel at ease while reading the poem.
The next few lines of the poem describe the beauty of the natural world. The speaker describes the "purple glow" of the mountains and the "silver blaze" of the sea. These images are vivid and powerful, and they evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the reader. The speaker is suggesting that the natural world is a source of inspiration and beauty, and that we should take the time to appreciate it.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker begins to contemplate the inevitability of death. The line "For I am weary of the world, the moon like a white hawk" suggests that the speaker is tired of the world and its troubles. The image of the moon as a white hawk is a powerful one, as it suggests that death is always lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's desire to escape from the world and find paradise. The line "And I would leave the world's turmoil, and lying by the violet hearth" suggests that the speaker wants to escape from the chaos and turmoil of the world and find peace and tranquility. The image of the violet hearth is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker is looking for a place of comfort and warmth.
The poem then takes a more mystical turn, as the speaker begins to describe the search for paradise. The line "And there the mystic twilight dropping slowly down" suggests that the speaker is entering a mystical realm, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred. The image of the mystic twilight dropping slowly down is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker is entering a world of mystery and wonder.
The next few lines of the poem describe the search for paradise in more detail. The line "And I would murmur, fading into dreams, with an old chant" suggests that the speaker is using an old chant to enter into a state of meditation or trance. The image of the speaker fading into dreams is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker is entering a world of imagination and fantasy.
The poem then takes a more spiritual turn, as the speaker begins to describe the search for God. The line "And there the world's eternal noon burns on" suggests that the speaker is searching for a place of eternal light and warmth. The image of the world's eternal noon burning on is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker is searching for a place of spiritual enlightenment.
The final lines of the poem describe the speaker's ultimate goal: to find paradise. The line "And I would find, by the edge of that water, the collar-bone of a hare" suggests that the speaker is searching for a symbol of purity and innocence. The image of the collar-bone of a hare is a powerful one, as it suggests that the speaker is searching for a symbol of the divine.
In conclusion, Poetry Running To Paradise is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It explores the themes of love, death, and the search for paradise in a powerful and evocative way. The poem is a testament to Yeats' skill as a poet, and it continues to inspire and move readers to this day. If you have not yet read this poem, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a journey through the human soul that is not to be missed.
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