The Rose of the World
By William Butler Yeats
WHO dreamed that beauty passes like a dream?
For these red lips, with all their mournful pride,
Mournful that no new wonder may betide,
Troy passed away in one high funeral gleam,
And Usna’s children died.
We and the labouring world are passing by:
Amid men’s souls, that waver and give place
Like the pale waters in their wintry race,
Under the passing stars, foam of the sky,
Lives on this lonely face.
Bow down, archangels, in your dim abode:
Before you were, or any hearts to beat,
Weary and kind one lingered by His seat;
He made the world to be a grassy road
Before her wandering feet.
For these red lips, with all their mournful pride,
Mournful that no new wonder may betide,
Troy passed away in one high funeral gleam,
And Usna’s children died.
We and the labouring world are passing by:
Amid men’s souls, that waver and give place
Like the pale waters in their wintry race,
Under the passing stars, foam of the sky,
Lives on this lonely face.
Bow down, archangels, in your dim abode:
Before you were, or any hearts to beat,
Weary and kind one lingered by His seat;
He made the world to be a grassy road
Before her wandering feet.
Poem Analysis:
William Butler Yeats' poem The Rose of the World is a deeply evocative and philosophical meditation on beauty, transience, and the eternal presence of an idealized figure. The poem employs rich symbolism and allusions to historical and mythological events, illustrating Yeats' preoccupation with time, change, and the divine feminine.
Themes
- The Transience of Beauty: Yeats questions the fleeting nature of beauty in the opening line: "Who dreamed that beauty passes like a dream?" This rhetorical question challenges the notion that beauty is ephemeral. However, the subsequent imagery suggests that even the most magnificent figures and civilizations, such as Troy and Usna’s children, have succumbed to time. The "mournful pride" of the rose represents a beauty that understands its own impermanence yet retains dignity.
- The Passing of Time and Human Existence: The second stanza moves from individual beauty to a broader reflection on the world’s transience. Yeats compares human souls to "pale waters in their wintry race," emphasizing the fleeting and unstable nature of existence. Yet, amidst this ever-changing world, the "lonely face" of the rose remains a constant, suggesting the endurance of an ideal amidst the chaos of time.
- The Divine Feminine and Eternal Presence: The final stanza elevates the rose beyond the mortal plane, addressing archangels and implying that before creation, there existed a figure of beauty and grace. The lines "Before you were, or any hearts to beat, / Weary and kind one lingered by His seat;" suggest a pre-existing divine entity, possibly representing the ideal woman, muse, or spiritual force guiding existence. The world is envisioned as "a grassy road" laid before her feet, reinforcing the idea of her timeless and guiding presence.
Symbolism
- The Rose: The rose is a central motif in Yeats' poetry, often symbolizing ideal beauty, Ireland, and the divine feminine. Here, it represents both mortal and immortal beauty, capturing the sorrow of inevitable loss yet hinting at an eternal essence beyond physical decay.
- Historical and Mythological Allusions: Troy -The reference to Troy's destruction in "one high funeral gleam" alludes to the impermanence of even the greatest civilizations. Usna’s Children - A nod to Irish mythology, particularly Deirdre of the Sorrows, a tragic tale of beauty and loss. Archangels and the Divine Seat - These references introduce a spiritual dimension, aligning beauty with a higher, eternal realm.
Poetic Techniques
- Lyrical and Philosophical Tone: Yeats employs a contemplative and almost mystical tone, inviting readers to ponder the paradox of fleeting beauty and enduring ideals.
- Use of Imagery: "Red lips, with all their mournful pride" Evokes passion and the sorrow of knowing beauty fades. "Foam of the sky" Suggests the celestial realm as transient and ever-changing, akin to sea foam.
- Enjambment and Flow: The poem’s flowing structure, with lines seamlessly leading into one another, reflects the continuous passage of time and the blending of the mortal with the divine.
Yeats' The Rose of the World is a profound exploration of beauty’s impermanence, human mortality, and the existence of an eternal ideal. Through rich symbolism and lyrical beauty, Yeats suggests that while individual instances of beauty fade, an overarching divine presence remains, guiding the course of history and human experience. The poem serves as both a lament and a reverence for the transcendent nature of true beauty.