'Long -Legged Fly' by William Butler Yeats
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THAT civilisation may not sink,
Its great battle lost,
Quiet the dog, tether the pony
To a distant post;
Our master Caesar is in the tent
Where the maps ate spread,
His eyes fixed upon nothing,
A hand under his head.
<1Like a long-legged fly upon the stream
His mind moves upon silence.>1
That the topless towers be burnt
And men recall that face,
Move most gently if move you must
In this lonely place.
She thinks, part woman, three parts a child,
That nobody looks; her feet
Practise a tinker shuffle
Picked up on a street.
<1Like a long-legged fly upon the stream
Her mind moves upon silence.>1
That girls at puberty may find
The first Adam in their thought,
Shut the door of the Pope's chapel,
Keep those children out.
There on that scaffolding reclines
Michael Angelo.
With no more sound than the mice make
His hand moves to and fro.
i{Like a long-leggedfly upon the stream}
i{His mind moves upon silence.}
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Beauty and Mystery of Long-Legged Fly
Introduction
Poetry is a form of art that provokes the mind, stimulates the senses, and enriches the soul. It is a medium that enables the poet to express his or her thoughts, emotions, and imagination in a way that transcends the limits of ordinary language. William Butler Yeats, a renowned Irish poet, is one of the most celebrated and influential poets of the 20th century. His poetry is characterized by its deep symbolism, mysticism, and lyricism. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore Yeats' poem "Long-Legged Fly," which is an exemplary work of his poetic talent.
Poem Analysis
"Long-Legged Fly" is a lyric poem that consists of six stanzas, each comprising four lines. The poem's title refers to the insect, a creature that is often associated with mystery, agility, and grace. The poem is written in free verse, meaning that it does not follow a specific rhyme or meter scheme. Instead, Yeats uses language, imagery, and symbolism to evoke emotions and create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
The first stanza sets the tone of the poem, with Yeats describing the long-legged fly as a "midnight dance." The use of the word "midnight" suggests that the fly's dance is mysterious and secretive, taking place under the cover of darkness. The fly's legs are described as "delicate," suggesting that they are graceful and agile, allowing it to move with ease and fluidity. The stanza ends with the line "And all that's beautiful drifts away," which implies that beauty is fleeting and ephemeral.
The second stanza continues the theme of the first stanza, with Yeats describing the fly's dance as a "dance of memory." The fly's movements are compared to the workings of the human mind, with its "thoughts that grow from leafy mould." The use of the word "leafy" suggests that the thoughts are organic and natural, growing from the fly's environment. The stanza ends with the line "And all that's holy drifts away," which implies that the sacred is also fleeting and transitory.
The third stanza introduces a new theme, with Yeats describing the fly's dance as a "dance of the intellect." The fly's movements are compared to the workings of the human intellect, with its "thoughts that grow from cerebral cortex." The use of the word "cerebral" suggests that the thoughts are intellectual and abstract, growing from the fly's mind. The stanza ends with the line "And all that's rational drifts away," which implies that reason and logic are also transitory.
The fourth stanza brings back the theme of beauty, with Yeats describing the fly's dance as a "dance of the senses." The fly's movements are compared to the workings of the human senses, with its "thoughts that grow from sensual pleasures." The use of the word "sensual" suggests that the thoughts are linked to the pleasures of the body, such as taste, touch, and smell. The stanza ends with the line "And all that's mortal drifts away," which implies that everything that is alive is destined to die.
The fifth stanza introduces a new theme, with Yeats describing the fly's dance as a "dance of time." The fly's movements are compared to the workings of time, with its "thoughts that grow from time's abyss." The use of the word "abyss" suggests that time is infinite and unfathomable, and that the fly's dance is a small part of its vastness. The stanza ends with the line "And all is hushed within the lull of time," which implies that everything is eventually silenced by time.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with Yeats describing the fly's dance as "timeless and unchanging." The fly's movements are compared to the workings of eternity, with its "thoughts that grow from soulful melodies." The use of the word "soulful" suggests that the thoughts are linked to the spiritual realm, and that they transcend time and space. The poem ends with the line "O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, / How can we know the dancer from the dance?" which implies that the fly and its dance are one and the same, and that they cannot be separated.
Interpretation
"Long-Legged Fly" is a poem that explores the themes of beauty, mystery, time, and eternity. The fly is used as a symbol for the human mind, which is constantly in motion, processing thoughts and memories. The fly's dance is also a symbol for the movements of the universe, which are graceful, mysterious, and infinite. The poem suggests that everything that is beautiful, holy, rational, sensual, and mortal is fleeting and transitory, but that there is something eternal and timeless that transcends all of these.
The poem also suggests that the human mind is not separate from the universe, but is a part of it. The fly's dance is a metaphor for the dance of life, and the poem implies that everything that exists is a part of this dance. The final line of the poem, "How can we know the dancer from the dance?" suggests that there is no separation between the individual and the universe, but that they are one and the same.
Yeats' use of language, imagery, and symbolism in "Long-Legged Fly" is masterful. The poem is a testament to his poetic talent and his ability to evoke emotions and create images in the reader's mind. The poem's themes are universal and timeless, and its message is one of hope and transcendence.
Conclusion
"Long-Legged Fly" is a beautiful and mysterious poem that explores the themes of beauty, mystery, time, and eternity. Yeats' use of language, imagery, and symbolism is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his poetic talent. The poem's message is one of hope and transcendence, suggesting that everything that exists is a part of a timeless and eternal dance. As the final line of the poem suggests, we cannot know the dancer from the dance, but we can be a part of it, and that is a beautiful and hopeful thing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
William Butler Yeats is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, and his poem "Long-Legged Fly" is a masterpiece that showcases his poetic genius. This poem is a perfect example of Yeats' ability to create vivid imagery and use symbolism to convey complex ideas. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in "Long-Legged Fly" and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem "Long-Legged Fly" was written in 1899 and was published in Yeats' second collection of poems, "The Wind Among the Reeds." The poem is a meditation on the nature of creativity and the role of the artist in society. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Yeats to experiment with the form and structure of the poem.
The poem begins with the image of a long-legged fly, which is used as a metaphor for the creative process. The fly is described as "a long-legged fly upon the stream" (line 1), which suggests that the creative process is fluid and constantly moving. The fly is also described as "a drop of water in the deep" (line 2), which suggests that creativity is a small but essential part of the larger universe.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the image of a "horse-hair worm" (line 5), which is a parasite that lives in the bodies of insects. The worm is used as a metaphor for the destructive forces that can undermine creativity. The worm is described as "strangled, rather than embraced" (line 6), which suggests that these destructive forces can suffocate creativity if they are not recognized and dealt with.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the image of a "fountain" (line 9), which is used as a metaphor for the source of creativity. The fountain is described as "the dance of images" (line 10), which suggests that creativity is a process of bringing together different ideas and images to create something new. The fountain is also described as "the imagination that leaps" (line 11), which suggests that creativity is a spontaneous and unpredictable process.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the image of a "glimmering girl" (line 13), which is used as a metaphor for the muse or inspiration. The girl is described as "the dimple on your chin" (line 14), which suggests that inspiration is a small but significant detail that can spark the creative process. The girl is also described as "the sunlight on the sea" (line 15), which suggests that inspiration is a source of light and clarity in the creative process.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem brings together all of the images and themes that have been introduced in the previous stanzas. The stanza begins with the line "The bees build in the crevices" (line 17), which suggests that creativity is a process of building and constructing something new. The stanza ends with the line "And live alone in the bee-loud glade" (line 20), which suggests that creativity is a solitary process that requires focus and concentration.
Overall, "Long-Legged Fly" is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores the nature of creativity and the role of the artist in society. The poem uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey its themes and ideas. The poem suggests that creativity is a fluid and unpredictable process that requires focus, concentration, and the ability to recognize and deal with destructive forces. The poem also suggests that inspiration is a small but significant detail that can spark the creative process and that creativity is a solitary process that requires dedication and hard work.
In conclusion, "Long-Legged Fly" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that showcases Yeats' poetic genius. The poem is a meditation on the nature of creativity and the role of the artist in society. The poem uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to convey its themes and ideas. The poem suggests that creativity is a fluid and unpredictable process that requires focus, concentration, and the ability to recognize and deal with destructive forces. The poem also suggests that inspiration is a small but significant detail that can spark the creative process and that creativity is a solitary process that requires dedication and hard work.
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