Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ROSE OF THE WORLD, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ROSE OF THE WORLD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Who dreamed that beauty passes like a dream?
Last Line: Before her wandering feet.
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): Creation; Dreams; God


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.





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