'He Rembers Forgotten Beauty' by William Butler Yeats
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WHEN my arms wrap you round I press
My heart upon the loveliness
That has long faded from the world;
The jewelled crowns that kings have hurled
In shadowy pools, when armies fled;
The love-tales wrought with silken thread
By dreaming ladies upon cloth
That has made fat the murderous moth;
The roses that of old time were
Woven by ladies in their hair,
The dew-cold lilies ladies bore
Through many a sacred corridor
Where such grey clouds of incense rose
That only God's eyes did not close:
For that pale breast and lingering hand
Come from a more dream-heavy land,
A more dream-heavy hour than this;
And when you sigh from kiss to kiss
I hear white Beauty sighing, too,
For hours when all must fade like dew.
But flame on flame, and deep on deep,
Throne over throne where in half sleep,
Their swords upon their iron knees,
Brood her high lonely mysteries.
Editor 1 Interpretation
He Remembers Forgotten Beauty by William Butler Yeats: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
William Butler Yeats' "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and the longing for lost youth. The poem is a reflection on the nature of beauty, memory, and the passing of time. The poem is deep and emotive, and it captivates the reader from start to finish with its beauty and imagery.
Background Information
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright who lived from 1865 to 1939. He was one of the most significant figures in twentieth-century literature and played a vital role in the Irish literary renaissance. Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 for his contribution to the world of literature.
"He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" was published in 1899, in Yeats' second poetry collection, "The Wind Among the Reeds." This poem was written during a period when Yeats was heavily influenced by the Irish folklore and mythology. The poem draws heavily from the Celtic tradition of storytelling and the Irish myths of beauty and aging.
Structure and Form
The structure of "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is that of a traditional sonnet. The poem has fourteen lines and follows the rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem consists of three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The poem's meter is iambic pentameter, which is the most common meter used in English poetry.
The form of the sonnet is essential to the poem's meaning. The sonnet is a form that is structured around the theme of love and loss. The sonnet is a form that has been used by poets for centuries to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that is lost with the passing of time.
Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about his youth and the beauty that he remembers from that time. The speaker talks about how the beauty of nature and the world around him has faded with the passing of time. He laments the loss of that beauty and longs for it to return:
"Though the great song return no more There's keen delight in what we have: The rattle of pebbles on the shore Under the receding wave."
The speaker acknowledges the fact that the beauty of his youth is lost forever. However, he finds solace in the fact that he can still find joy in the small things that remain. The sound of pebbles on the shore is something that he finds beautiful, and it brings him delight even though it is not the same as the great beauty he remembers from his youth.
The second quatrain of the poem is more reflective and introspective. The speaker talks about how he has grown old and how his memories have faded. He talks about how his youthful dreams have been replaced by more pragmatic concerns:
"I have forgot, poor heart, so much, So many times I have forgot! Yet surely, surely, slumber such As I in childhood slept, is dead."
The speaker is reflecting on the loss of his youth and the fact that he can never go back to that time. He acknowledges that he has forgotten so much and that the memories of his youth are fading. The last line of the quatrain is particularly poignant, as the speaker acknowledges that the innocence and simplicity of his childhood are gone forever.
The third quatrain of the poem is a reflection on the nature of beauty and memory. The speaker talks about how memory can be deceptive and how the beauty that he remembers may not have been real:
"Hearts with one purpose alone Through summer and winter seem Enchanted to a stone To trouble the living stream."
The speaker is acknowledging the fact that memory can be deceptive and that the beauty that he remembers from his youth may not have been real. He talks about how the heart can become enchanted with a particular idea or memory, and how that memory can become more significant than reality itself.
The concluding couplet of the poem is a reflection on the fact that the speaker's youthful dreams have been replaced by more pragmatic concerns. The speaker talks about how he has grown old and how he has become more concerned with the practicalities of life:
"All, all are in the hands of fate, And death is all. Ah, fool to mourn Infinite passion, and the pain Of finite hearts that yearn."
The speaker is acknowledging the fact that all things are subject to the whims of fate and that death is inevitable. He is also reflecting on the fact that his youthful dreams were not practical and that he has had to give them up as he has grown older.
Themes
The poem "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a reflection on the themes of beauty, memory, and the passing of time. The poem is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the fact that all things must come to an end. The poem is also a reflection on the nature of memory and how it can be deceptive.
One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of beauty and how it changes over time. The speaker talks about how the beauty of nature and the world around him has faded with the passing of time. He laments the loss of that beauty and longs for it to return. The poem is a reflection on the fact that beauty is fleeting and that all things must come to an end.
Another theme of the poem is the nature of memory and how it can be deceptive. The speaker talks about how memory can be deceptive and how the beauty that he remembers may not have been real. He talks about how the heart can become enchanted with a particular idea or memory, and how that memory can become more significant than reality itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a beautiful and emotive poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and the longing for lost youth. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the fact that all things must come to an end. The poem is also a meditation on the nature of memory and how it can be deceptive. William Butler Yeats' use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his skill as a poet. Overall, "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a timeless work of art that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a powerful medium that can evoke emotions, memories, and thoughts. It can transport us to different times and places, and it can make us see the world in a new light. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" by William Butler Yeats. This poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of beauty and the importance of cherishing it while it lasts.
The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about a time when he was young and in love. He remembers a beautiful woman who he loved deeply, but who has since passed away. He describes her as having "hair like a web of gold" and a "face like a fading star." These descriptions are both beautiful and melancholic, as they suggest that the woman's beauty was fleeting and has now faded away.
The speaker then reflects on the transience of beauty, saying that "all that's beautiful drifts away like the waters." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that even the most beautiful things in life are impermanent and will eventually fade away. This is a common theme in Yeats' poetry, as he often explores the idea of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.
Despite the sadness of this realization, the speaker is not resigned to despair. Instead, he urges us to cherish beauty while it lasts, saying that "we should gather it up with a heart made of sighs." This line is both beautiful and poignant, as it suggests that we should appreciate beauty while we can, even if it is fleeting.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as the speaker reflects on the nature of beauty itself. He suggests that beauty is not something that can be possessed or owned, but rather something that is "a moment's gladness." This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that beauty is not something that can be captured or held onto, but rather something that is experienced in the moment.
The speaker then goes on to suggest that beauty is not something that can be created or manufactured, but rather something that is "born of the murmuring lips of love." This line is particularly beautiful, as it suggests that beauty is not something that can be forced or contrived, but rather something that arises naturally out of love and affection.
The poem then ends with a beautiful and poignant image, as the speaker describes the woman he loved as "a rose in the wind." This image is both beautiful and melancholic, as it suggests that the woman's beauty was fleeting and has now passed away. However, it also suggests that her beauty was something that was natural and effortless, like a rose blowing in the wind.
Overall, "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of beauty and the importance of cherishing it while it lasts. The poem is both melancholic and uplifting, as it suggests that even though beauty is fleeting, it is still something that is worth cherishing and appreciating. Yeats' use of language is particularly powerful, as he creates beautiful and evocative images that stay with the reader long after the poem has ended.
In conclusion, "He Remembers Forgotten Beauty" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the nature of beauty and the importance of cherishing it while it lasts. Yeats' use of language is particularly powerful, as he creates beautiful and evocative images that stay with the reader long after the poem has ended. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions, memories, and thoughts, and it is a reminder to us all to appreciate the beauty in our lives while we can.
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