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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


FOR ANNE GREGORY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: NEVER SHALL A YOUNG MAN
Subject(s): HAIR; LOVE;

NEVER shall a young man,
Never shall a young man,
Thrown into despair
Thrown into despair
By those great honey-coloured
By those great honey-coloured
Ramparts at your ear,
Ramparts at your ear,
Love you for yourself alone
Love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair.'
And not your yellow hair.'
But I can get a hair-dye
But I can get a hair-dye
And set such colour there,
And set such colour there,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
Brown, or black, or carrot,
That young men in despair
That young men in despair
May love me for myself alone
May love me for myself alone
And not my yellow hair.'
And not my yellow hair.'
I heard an old religious man
I heard an old religious man
But yesternight declare
But yesternight declare
That he had found a text to prove
That he had found a text to prove
That only God, my dear,
That only God, my dear,
Could love you for yourself alone
Could love you for yourself alone
And not your yellow hair."
And not your yellow hair."





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