I swayed upon the gaudy stem
The butt-end of a steering-oar,
And saw wherever I could turn
A crowd upon a shore.
And though I would have hushed the crowd,
There was no mother’s son but said,
“What is the figure in a shroud
Upon a gaudy bed?’
And after running at the brim
Cried out upon that thing beneath
– It had such dignity of limb –
By the sweet name of Death.
Though I’d my finger on my lip,
What could I but take up the song?
And running crowd and gaudy ship
Cried out the whole night long,
Crying amid the glittering sea,
Naming it with ecstatic breath,
Because it had such dignity,
By the sweet name of Death.
(William Butler Yeats)
More Poetry from William Butler Yeats:
William Butler Yeats Poems based on Topics: Cry, Death & Dying, Sons, Running, Dignity- A Man Young And Old (William Butler Yeats Poems)
- A Lover's Quarrel Among the Fairies (William Butler Yeats Poems)
- A Deep-Sworn Vow (William Butler Yeats Poems)
- The Lady's First Song (William Butler Yeats Poems)
- Under Saturn (William Butler Yeats Poems)
- Three Songs To The One Burden (William Butler Yeats Poems)