A Faery Song

By William Butler Yeats

The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the lonely of heart, And the lonely of heart is withered away; While the faeries dance in a place apart, Shaking their milk-white feet in a ring, Tossing their milk-white arms in the air; For they hear the wind laugh, and murmur and sing Of a land where even the old are fair, And even the wise are merry of tongue; But I heard a reed of Coolaney say, When the wind has laughed and murmured and sung, The lonely of heart is withered away!
Written: 1899-01-01

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Poem Details

Date Written: 1899-01-01
Date Published: 1899-01-01
Language: English
Keywords: Faeries, Magic, Loneliness, Fantasy, Reflection
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher: W.B. Yeats
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
A lyrical poem by Yeats that evokes the enchanting world of faeries, contrasting their joyful, magical existence with the sorrow of the lonely-hearted, exploring themes of fantasy and melancholy.