To Ireland in the Coming Times
By William Butler Yeats
Know, that I would accounted be
True brother of a company
That sang, to sweeten Ireland’s wrong,
Ballad and story, rann and song;
Nor be I any less of them,
Because the red-rose-bordered hem
Of her, whose history began
Before God made the angelic clan,
Trails all about the written page.
When Time began to rant and rage
The measure of her flying feet
Made Ireland’s heart begin to beat;
And Time bade all his candles flare
To light a measure here and there;
And may the thoughts of Ireland brood
Upon a measured guietude.
Nor may I less be counted one
With Davis, Mangan, Ferguson,
Because, to him who ponders well,
My rhymes more than their rhyming tell
Of things discovered in the deep,
Where only body’s laid asleep.
For the elemental creatures go
About my table to and fro,
That hurry from unmeasured mind
To rant and rage in flood and wind,
Yet he who treads in measured ways
May surely barter gaze for gaze.
Man ever journeys on with them
After the red-rose-bordered hem.
Ah, faeries, dancing under the moon,
A Druid land, a Druid tune.!
While still I may, I write for you
The love I lived, the dream I knew.
From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye;
And we, our singing and our love,
What measurer Time has lit above,
And all benighted things that go
About my table to and fro,
Are passing on to where may be,
In truth’s consuming ecstasy,
No place for love and dream at all;
For God goes by with white footfall.
I cast my heart into my rhymes,
That you, in the dim coming times,
May know how my heart went with them
After the red-rose-bordered hem.
True brother of a company
That sang, to sweeten Ireland’s wrong,
Ballad and story, rann and song;
Nor be I any less of them,
Because the red-rose-bordered hem
Of her, whose history began
Before God made the angelic clan,
Trails all about the written page.
When Time began to rant and rage
The measure of her flying feet
Made Ireland’s heart begin to beat;
And Time bade all his candles flare
To light a measure here and there;
And may the thoughts of Ireland brood
Upon a measured guietude.
Nor may I less be counted one
With Davis, Mangan, Ferguson,
Because, to him who ponders well,
My rhymes more than their rhyming tell
Of things discovered in the deep,
Where only body’s laid asleep.
For the elemental creatures go
About my table to and fro,
That hurry from unmeasured mind
To rant and rage in flood and wind,
Yet he who treads in measured ways
May surely barter gaze for gaze.
Man ever journeys on with them
After the red-rose-bordered hem.
Ah, faeries, dancing under the moon,
A Druid land, a Druid tune.!
While still I may, I write for you
The love I lived, the dream I knew.
From our birthday, until we die,
Is but the winking of an eye;
And we, our singing and our love,
What measurer Time has lit above,
And all benighted things that go
About my table to and fro,
Are passing on to where may be,
In truth’s consuming ecstasy,
No place for love and dream at all;
For God goes by with white footfall.
I cast my heart into my rhymes,
That you, in the dim coming times,
May know how my heart went with them
After the red-rose-bordered hem.
Poem Analysis:
William Butler Yeats’s poem "To Ireland in the Coming Times" is a deeply reflective and evocative piece that explores themes of Irish nationalism, history, love, and the passage of time. Written at a time when Ireland was struggling with political unrest and striving for independence, Yeats uses his poetry to connect Ireland’s past, present, and future. The poem is not just a tribute to Ireland’s rich cultural history but also a meditation on the power of art and poetry to transcend time and influence future generations.
Tone and Structure
The poem’s tone is both reverent and contemplative. Yeats speaks with an air of intimacy, addressing Ireland directly as though she were a living entity, worthy of both love and lamentation. He recognizes the passage of time, yet he remains steadfast in his commitment to the country and its traditions, suggesting that despite the inevitable changes and challenges Ireland faces, its cultural heritage remains a vital part of its identity.
The poem is composed in free verse with a rhythmic flow, which mirrors Yeats’s desire to break free from the constraints of rigid poetic forms while still honoring the timeless nature of Irish tradition. The language in the poem is lyrical and rich in imagery, particularly in Yeats’s references to the "red-rose-bordered hem" and the elemental creatures that "go about my table," creating a sense of connection to the mythical and mystical elements of Irish folklore.
Historical and Cultural Allusions
The title "To Ireland in the Coming Times" suggests Yeats’s focus on the future, yet the poem is steeped in a profound awareness of Ireland’s past. The first stanza expresses a desire to be part of a poetic tradition that "sang, to sweeten Ireland’s wrong," a reference to Ireland’s historical suffering under British colonial rule. Yeats aligns himself with the poets and writers who have long expressed the pain of Ireland’s oppression, including Thomas Davis, James Clarence Mangan, and John Ferguson, whom Yeats lists in the poem. These figures were instrumental in cultivating Irish nationalism through literature, and Yeats’s invocation of their names ties him to their legacy.
The mention of "the red-rose-bordered hem" is also significant. It may refer to the emblem of the Irish nationalist movement, symbolizing both the red rose of Ireland and the mythic femininity associated with the country. Yeats invokes this image to convey Ireland’s enduring spirit, a spirit that transcends time and continues to influence the present and the future.
The Role of the Poet and Art
Yeats meditates on the role of the poet in shaping history and identity. In the second stanza, he claims that his "rhymes more than their rhyming tell / Of things discovered in the deep," suggesting that poetry, for Yeats, is not merely an art form but a means of uncovering deeper truths about the human experience and the spiritual realm. The reference to "the elemental creatures" alludes to the supernatural and the mystical aspects of Irish folklore, where beings like faeries and spirits are believed to inhabit the natural world. These creatures represent forces beyond the mundane, and Yeats suggests that through poetry, one can connect with these elemental forces.
Furthermore, Yeats presents the idea of poetry as a way of traveling through time and space, echoing the themes of eternal recurrence. The poet "treads in measured ways" as he walks in the footsteps of those who came before him, including the great poets of Ireland’s past. This is not just a poetic tradition, but a spiritual journey, as evidenced by Yeats’s reference to "a Druid land, a Druid tune," which calls on the ancient religious practices and musical traditions of pre-Christian Ireland.
Themes of Love, Mortality, and Legacy
In the final stanzas, Yeats shifts focus to the transient nature of life and the enduring power of love and art. He writes, "From our birthday, until we die, / Is but the winking of an eye," emphasizing the brevity of human existence in the face of eternity. However, despite this brevity, Yeats’s work is designed to leave a lasting legacy, a "love" and "dream" that will survive "in the dim coming times."
Yeats’s assertion that "I cast my heart into my rhymes" expresses the deep emotional and spiritual commitment he has made to his art. Poetry is not just a reflection of the poet’s thoughts but a vehicle for sharing his inner life and love with future generations. He hopes that his words will endure, allowing future readers to "know how my heart went with them," just as he traces the "red-rose-bordered hem" throughout the poem — an enduring symbol of Ireland's mystical and historical identity.
The final lines of the poem — "For God goes by with white footfall" — suggest a sense of divine inevitability and the march of time, reinforcing the idea that while human endeavors, like poetry and love, are fleeting, they have the potential to transcend the temporal world and touch something greater. Yeats imagines a time "where may be / No place for love and dream at all," but in this space, God walks on, suggesting that the spiritual and divine order ultimately governs the flow of time, and that love, art, and Ireland’s mythic heritage may endure in some form beyond the material world.
"To Ireland in the Coming Times" is a poignant and mystical meditation on the power of poetry to transcend time, carry forward cultural heritage, and connect humanity to the deeper truths of the universe. Through his references to Irish history, folklore, and the enduring influence of previous generations of poets, Yeats establishes his own place within this tradition, suggesting that his work will live on as a testament to Ireland’s spiritual and cultural legacy. At the same time, the poem reflects Yeats's awareness of mortality, time's passing nature, and the divine forces that govern human existence, offering a vision of art as a means to achieve immortality in the hearts and minds of future generations.