I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
This poem is in the public domain.
Line 1:
“I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Arise: To get up or awaken; here, it implies a decisive action or movement.
- Innisfree: A fictional, idyllic place symbolizing peace, solitude, and natural beauty.
In-Depth Explanation:
The opening line sets the tone for the poem, expressing a deep longing and determination to leave the current reality and escape to a place of tranquility. The repetition of “go” emphasizes the speaker’s urgency and desire. Innisfree is not just a physical location but a symbolic refuge from the chaos of modern life. The phrase “I will arise” suggests a spiritual or emotional awakening, as if the speaker is rousing themselves from a state of stagnation or dissatisfaction.
Context:
Yeats wrote this poem in 1888, inspired by his longing for the simplicity and beauty of the Irish countryside. The line reflects the Romantic ideal of returning to nature as a source of peace and fulfillment, contrasting with the industrialization and urbanization of the late 19th century.
Line 2:
“And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Clay: A natural earthy material used for building.
- Wattles: Interwoven sticks or branches, often used in constructing simple dwellings.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker envisions a humble, self-sufficient life in harmony with nature. The use of “clay and wattles” suggests a return to primitive, organic materials, emphasizing simplicity and a connection to the earth. This line reflects the speaker’s desire to escape materialism and live a life of minimalism and authenticity.
Context:
The imagery of a small cabin evokes the idea of Thoreau’s Walden, where simplicity and self-reliance are celebrated. It also ties into the Irish tradition of rural life, which Yeats romanticizes as a counterpoint to the industrialized world.
Line 3:
“Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bean-rows: Rows of bean plants, suggesting a small, cultivated garden.
- Hive: A structure where bees live and produce honey.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker plans a life of self-sufficiency, cultivating beans and keeping bees. The specificity of “nine bean-rows” adds a sense of order and purpose, while the hive symbolizes harmony with nature and the rewards of hard work (honey). This line reinforces the theme of a simple, productive life close to the land.
Context:
The imagery of bees and bean-rows reflects the pastoral ideal, where humans live in balance with nature. It also suggests a life of quiet productivity, far removed from the noise and haste of urban existence.
Line 4:
“And live alone in the bee-loud glade.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bee-loud: Filled with the sound of bees buzzing.
- Glade: An open space in a forest, often sunlit and peaceful.
In-Depth Explanation:
The phrase “bee-loud glade” evokes a vivid sensory image of a serene, sunlit clearing filled with the gentle hum of bees. The word “alone” suggests solitude, but not loneliness—rather, a peaceful, meditative state. The line encapsulates the speaker’s vision of a tranquil, harmonious existence.
Context:
This line reflects the Romantic ideal of finding solace and inspiration in nature. The “bee-loud glade” symbolizes a place of natural beauty and vitality, contrasting with the dullness of urban life.
Line 5:
“And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dropping slow: Descending gradually, like dew or rain.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker anticipates finding peace in Innisfree, but not instantly. The phrase “dropping slow” suggests that peace is a gradual, natural process, like dew forming or rain falling. This reinforces the idea that true peace cannot be rushed or forced but must be nurtured over time.
Context:
This line reflects the Romantic belief in the restorative power of nature. It also hints at the speaker’s impatience with the fast-paced, artificial world they seek to escape.
Line 6:
“Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Veils of the morning: The soft, misty light of dawn.
- Cricket: A small insect known for its chirping sound, often associated with quiet, rural settings.
In-Depth Explanation:
The imagery of “veils of the morning” suggests the delicate, ethereal quality of dawn, while the cricket’s song evokes a sense of calm and continuity. Together, these images create a vivid picture of a serene, natural world where peace is ever-present.
Context:
This line emphasizes the timeless, cyclical nature of life in Innisfree, contrasting with the linear, hurried pace of urban life.
Line 7:
“There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Glimmer: A faint, shimmering light.
- Purple glow: A rich, warm light, possibly reflecting the colors of the landscape.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker describes the beauty of Innisfree at different times of day. Midnight is “a glimmer,” suggesting a soft, magical light, while noon has a “purple glow,” evoking warmth and vibrancy. These images highlight the ever-changing yet constant beauty of nature.
Context:
This line reflects the Romantic fascination with the sublime and the beauty of the natural world. It also suggests that Innisfree is a place of perpetual wonder and inspiration.
Line 8:
“And evening full of the linnet’s wings.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Linnet: A small songbird, often associated with rural areas.
In-Depth Explanation:
The evening is described as “full of the linnet’s wings,” suggesting the sight and sound of birds in flight. This image evokes a sense of freedom, vitality, and harmony with nature.
Context:
The linnet’s wings symbolize the beauty and grace of the natural world, reinforcing the speaker’s longing for a life immersed in nature.
Line 9:
“I will arise and go now, for always night and day”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Arise: To get up or awaken (repeated from the first line).
- Always night and day: Continuously, without end.
In-Depth Explanation:
The repetition of “I will arise and go now” reinforces the speaker’s determination to leave their current life. The phrase “always night and day” suggests that the call of Innisfree is constant and unrelenting, a persistent longing that cannot be ignored.
Context:
This line reflects the speaker’s deep, unfulfilled desire for escape and renewal, a theme central to the poem.
Line 10:
“I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lapping: The gentle sound of water hitting the shore.
- Low sounds: Soft, soothing noises.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker hears the calming sound of lake water, which symbolizes the peace and tranquility of Innisfree. The “low sounds” suggest a gentle, rhythmic quality, evoking a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Context:
This line emphasizes the sensory appeal of Innisfree, drawing the speaker (and the reader) into its idyllic world.
Line 11:
“While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Roadway: A road or path.
- Pavements grey: The dull, lifeless streets of the city.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker contrasts the vibrant, natural beauty of Innisfree with the dreary, monotonous urban environment. The “pavements grey” symbolize the alienation and emptiness of city life.
Context:
This line highlights the tension between the natural and urban worlds, a central theme of the poem.
Line 12:
“I hear it in the deep heart’s core.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Deep heart’s core: The innermost part of one’s being.
In-Depth Explanation:
The speaker feels the call of Innisfree at the very core of their being, suggesting that this longing is not just physical but deeply emotional and spiritual. The phrase “deep heart’s core” emphasizes the intensity and authenticity of this desire.
Context:
This concluding line underscores the poem’s theme of inner peace and the universal human yearning for connection with nature.
In-Depth Summary
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats is a lyrical poem expressing the speaker’s longing for solitude and peace in a natural setting. The poem’s opening lines declare a strong, almost impulsive desire to leave for Innisfree, a secluded island where the speaker envisions building a simple, self-sufficient life. He imagines constructing a cabin from natural materials like clay and wattles, cultivating nine rows of beans, and keeping bees, fully immersing himself in the rhythms of nature.
In the second stanza, the speaker envisions the tranquility of Innisfree, describing how peace “comes dropping slow,” settling gently over the landscape, from the soft veils of morning mist to the cricket’s song. He evokes the beauty of different times of the day: the shimmer of midnight, the radiant glow of noon, and the fluttering wings of birds at evening.
In the final stanza, the speaker reaffirms his desire to go to Innisfree. However, he acknowledges that he is still physically present in an urban environment, standing on the “roadway” and the “pavements grey.” Despite his surroundings, the sounds of Innisfree—the gentle lapping of the lake water—resonate deeply within him, lodged in his “deep heart’s core.” This suggests that while he has not yet physically returned to Innisfree, its presence is deeply ingrained in his soul.
Critical Analysis
This poem reflects Yeats’s deep connection with nature, nostalgia, and his inner longing for peace and escape from urban life. The Lake Isle of Innisfree represents an idyllic retreat, a place of solitude and self-sufficiency, where the speaker can find harmony away from the chaos of modernity.
A significant aspect of the poem is its contrast between the bustling city and the tranquil countryside. The speaker is not physically at Innisfree but experiences a persistent yearning for it. This contrast highlights the Romantic notion of nature as a source of spiritual renewal. The dreamlike quality of the poem also aligns with Yeats’s early interest in Celtic mysticism and escapism.
Structurally, the poem is written in three quatrains with a consistent rhythm and musicality that reflect the speaker’s meditative and wistful tone. The repetition of “I will arise and go now” emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s longing, while the soft consonants and fluid imagery enhance the gentle, dreamy atmosphere.
Additionally, the poem can be interpreted as an allegory of the poet’s own desire for artistic inspiration. Innisfree, in this sense, symbolizes an inner creative sanctuary—one that provides the poet with emotional and spiritual sustenance even if he cannot physically escape to it.
Theme Analysis
1. Longing for Solitude and Escape
The most prominent theme in the poem is the deep yearning for solitude and retreat from the modern world. The speaker idealizes Innisfree as a peaceful haven, contrasting with the dreariness of his current surroundings.
2. Nature as a Source of Peace
The poem celebrates nature’s calming and rejuvenating effects. Through vivid imagery, Yeats presents Innisfree as a paradise where the speaker can live in harmony with the natural world, experiencing peace that “comes dropping slow.”
3. The Power of Memory and Imagination
Though the speaker is physically distant from Innisfree, its presence is strongly felt in his heart and mind. The poem suggests that places of personal significance can exist powerfully within us, shaping our emotions and desires.
4. The Contrast Between Urban Life and the Natural World
The imagery of the “roadway” and “pavements grey” in the final stanza juxtaposes the speaker’s current urban setting with his vision of Innisfree, reinforcing the tension between the artificial and the natural.
5. Self-Sufficiency and Simplicity
The speaker’s vision of life at Innisfree emphasizes independence and a return to a simpler, more fulfilling existence, free from the complications of modern society.
Literary Devices
1. Imagery
Yeats employs rich sensory imagery to paint an evocative picture of Innisfree. Examples include:
- Visual: “Midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow”
- Auditory: “I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore”
- Tactile: “Peace comes dropping slow”
2. Repetition
The phrase “I will arise and go now” is repeated in the first and third stanzas, emphasizing the speaker’s deep yearning for Innisfree.
3. Alliteration
The poem features alliteration that enhances its musicality:
- “Hive for the honey-bee” (h-sound)
- “Lake water lapping with low sounds” (l-sound)
4. Personification
- “Peace comes dropping slow” – Peace is given human-like qualities, reinforcing the idea that tranquility is something that can be experienced in a physical way.
5. Symbolism
- Innisfree represents an idealized refuge, a personal utopia that symbolizes peace, solitude, and a connection to nature.
- “Deep heart’s core” suggests an emotional and spiritual longing that transcends physical presence.
6. Contrast
- Between the natural beauty of Innisfree and the dreariness of the “pavements grey,” emphasizing the divide between rural tranquility and urban confinement.
7. Musicality and Rhythm
The poem’s flowing rhythm and soft, melodic sounds mimic the gentle lapping of water and the serenity of nature, reinforcing its meditative quality.
Conclusion
“The Lake Isle of Innisfree” is a deeply personal and evocative poem that explores the theme of longing for peace, nature, and solitude. Yeats’s use of vivid imagery, rhythmic flow, and symbolic contrasts creates a dreamlike meditation on the power of memory and the deep human desire to reconnect with a simpler, more harmonious existence. Whether read as a literal yearning for a specific place or as an allegory for inner peace, the poem remains one of Yeats’s most celebrated works, resonating with anyone who has ever longed for an escape into nature.
