The Rose of Peace (Poem by William Butler Yeats)

The Rose of Peace

By William Butler Yeats

If Michael, leader of God’s host
When Heaven and Hell are met,
Looked down on you from Heaven’s door-post
He would his deeds forget.

Brooding no more upon God’s wars
In his divine homestead,
He would go weave out of the stars
A chaplet for your head.

And all folk seeing him bow down,
And white stars tell your praise,
Would come at last to God’s great town,
Led on by gentle ways;

And God would bid His warfare cease,
Saying all things were well;
And softly make a rosy peace,
A peace of Heaven with Hell.

Poem Analysis:

"The Rose of Peace," a poem by William Butler Yeats, explores themes of divine intervention, transcendent beauty, and the reconciliation of opposing forces. Through vivid imagery and an ethereal tone, Yeats imagines a scenario where the divine, symbolized by the archangel Michael, is moved to forsake conflict in favor of peace and harmony.

Stanza 1: Michael’s Transformation

If Michael, leader of God’s host

When Heaven and Hell are met,

Looked down on you from Heaven’s door-post

He would his deeds forget.

The poem begins with a hypothetical situation involving Michael, the archangel traditionally depicted as the leader of God's army. Yeats situates Michael "When Heaven and Hell are met," indicating a moment of ultimate confrontation or cosmic significance. From this vantage point, if Michael were to look down upon the subject of the poem, he would be so moved by what he sees that he would forget his martial duties. This initial stanza sets up a stark contrast between the celestial battleground and the profound impact of the subject's presence.

Stanza 2: Weaving a Chaplet

Brooding no more upon God’s wars

In his divine homestead,

He would go weave out of the stars

A chaplet for your head.

In the second stanza, the transformation of Michael continues. No longer preoccupied with "God’s wars," he becomes a figure of peace and creation. The act of weaving a chaplet (a wreath or garland) out of stars for the subject's head is both a celestial and a deeply symbolic gesture. The stars, representing the divine and the eternal, are used to honor the subject, suggesting their beauty and purity have the power to transform divine focus from war to peace.

Stanza 3: Universal Praise

And all folk seeing him bow down,

And white stars tell your praise,

Would come at last to God’s great town,

Led on by gentle ways;

The third stanza shifts to the broader impact of Michael's act. The image of Michael bowing down and the "white stars" telling the subject's praise would inspire all people to follow suit. This collective movement towards "God’s great town" symbolizes a universal journey towards a divine or utopian state, achieved through "gentle ways" rather than conflict or strife. The subject's influence is thus portrayed as a unifying and uplifting force, capable of guiding humanity towards a higher state of existence.

Stanza 4: The Rose of Peace

And God would bid His warfare cease,

Saying all things were well;

And softly make a rosy peace,

A peace of Heaven with Hell.

In the final stanza, the ultimate reconciliation occurs. Moved by the same influence that affected Michael, God Himself commands an end to warfare, declaring "all things were well." The phrase "rosy peace" evokes both the delicate beauty of a rose and the warmth and comfort associated with peace. The concluding line, "A peace of Heaven with Hell," encapsulates the poem's theme of reconciliation. It suggests that even the most fundamental oppositions can be harmonized, leading to a state of universal peace.

Themes and Symbolism

• Divine Intervention and Transformation: Yeats uses the figure of Michael to symbolize divine intervention and the potential for transformation even in the realm of the divine. Michael’s shift from a war leader to a weaver of peace illustrates the transformative power of beauty and purity.
• Reconciliation and Harmony: The poem emphasizes the possibility of reconciliation between opposing forces. The final image of "a peace of Heaven with Hell" suggests that true peace involves the harmonization of all aspects of existence, including the most contradictory ones.
• The Power of Beauty: The subject's beauty and purity have a profound impact, inspiring divine and human beings alike to seek peace and harmony. This theme reflects Yeats's belief in the transcendent power of beauty to transform and elevate the human spirit.

"The Rose of Peace" by William Butler Yeats is a powerful meditation on the transformative power of beauty and the potential for reconciliation between opposing forces. Through the imagery of Michael the archangel and the symbolic use of stars and a chaplet, Yeats envisions a world where divine and human realms are united in a "rosy peace." The poem ultimately suggests that true peace is achieved not through conflict but through the gentle and harmonious influence of beauty and purity.