The Shadowy Waters: The Harp of Aengus

William Butler Yeats 1865 (Sandymount) – 1939 (Menton)




Edain came out of Midhir's hill, and lay
Beside young Aengus in his tower of glass,
Where time is drowned in odour-laden winds
And Druid moons, and murmuring of boughs,
And sleepy boughs, and boughs where apples made
Of opal and ruhy and pale chrysolite
Awake unsleeping fires; and wove seven strings,
Sweet with all music, out of his long hair,
Because her hands had been made wild by love.
When Midhir's wife had changed her to a fly,
He made a harp with Druid apple-wood
That she among her winds might know he wept;
And from that hour he has watched over none
But faithful lovers.
 

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
117

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDEEFGHIJKLM
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 578
Words 109
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. more…

All William Butler Yeats poems | William Butler Yeats Books

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