Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UNDER THE ROUND TOWER, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Although I'd lie lapped up in linen Last Line: On great-grandfather's battered tomb.' Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B. Subject(s): Begging & Beggars; Dreams | ||||||||
'ALTHOUGH I'd lie lapped up in linen A deal I'd sweat and little earn If I should live as live the neighbours,' Cried the beggar, Billy Byrne; 'Stretch bones till the daylight come On great-grandfather's battered tomb.' Upon a grey old battered tombstone In Glendalough beside the stream, Where the O'Byrnes and Byrnes are buried, He stretched his bones and fell in a dream Of sun and moon that a good hour Bellowed and pranced in the round tower; Of golden king and silver lady, Bellowing up and bellowing round, Till toes mastered a sweet measure, Mouth mastered a sweet sound, Prancing round and prancing up Until they pranced upon the top. That golden king and that wild lady Sang till stars began to fade, Hands gripped in hands, toes close together, Hair spread on the wind they made; That lady and that golden king Could like a brace of blackbirds sing. 'It's certain that my luck is broken,' That rambling jailbird Billy said; 'Before nightfall I'll pick a pocket And snug it in a feather bed. I cannot find the peace of home On great-grandfather's battered tomb.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND EYES: A DREAM by LYN HEJINIAN VARIATIONS: 14 by CONRAD AIKEN VARIATIONS: 18 by CONRAD AIKEN LIVE IT THROUGH by DAVID IGNATOW A DREAM OF GAMES by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE DREAM OF WAKING by RANDALL JARRELL APOLOGY FOR BAD DREAMS by ROBINSON JEFFERS SIXTEEN DEAD MEN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |
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