Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CLOAK, THE BOAT, AND THE SHOES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What do you make so fair and bright?
Last Line: "sudden and light."
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): Imagination; Vision; Fancy


"What do you make so fair and bright?"
"I make the cloak of Sorrow:
"O, lovely to see in all men's sight
"Shall be the cloak of Sorrow,
"In all men's sight."
"What do you build with sails for flight?"
"I build a boat for Sorrow,
"O, swift on the seas all day and night
"Saileth the rover Sorrow,
"All day and night."
"What do you weave with wool so white?"
"I weave the shoes of Sorrow,
"Soundless shall be the footfall light
"In all men's ears of Sorrow,
"Sudden and light."




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net