Anyone can interpret this? (Yeats poem)
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He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
William Butler Yeats
Had I the heavensÂ’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
What does it mean? I heard the last line spoke in the movie "Equilibrium" before.
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I think, he wishes that he had the power to do anything for 'you', he would. But because he has nothing to offer but his dreams, he would willingly sacrifice them for 'your' sake.Originally posted by clementius:He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
William Butler Yeats
Had I the heavensÂ’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
What does it mean? I heard the last line spoke in the movie "Equilibrium" before.
Very very surface interpretation. -
Do you want a line-by-line analysis, or an overview? An elaboration of this poem could easily be googled and found.Originally posted by clementius:He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
William Butler Yeats
Had I the heavensÂ’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
What does it mean? I heard the last line spoke in the movie "Equilibrium" before.
Simply put, this is a love poem -- of which the persona is probably someone who has nothing else to offer but his hopes and dreams.
The first stanza is clear enough -- he wishes for heaven's "embroidered cloths" to place at his beloved's feet. "Embroidered cloths" here means the stars and skies, and could be a metaphor for the best material trappings, but I personally prefer to think of it as being symbolic of the world, is "everything", the Alpha and the Omega, the be-all and end-all of things. All these he wishes he could offer to her, as an expression of his enduring, encompassing love, rich and full in his sincerity to please her and worship her.
It's as straightforward as the childish vows and promises we are too likely to commit in the throes of puppy love, eg "Oh I wish I can pluck the stars from the skies and adorn your hair." Sounds familiar?
The lines alluding to "night, light and the half-light" continues the celestial imagery established prior, and also signifies the person's seamless love for his sweetheart. The variation in colour, turning from dark to light to in-between, could also be representative of enduring love -- a love that is rich and textured and not at all superficial.
But alas, alack -- the persona is only human. He recognises that in spite of his intentions, he is unfortunately bound by limitations. He says, "I being poor, have only my dreams" -- and it is these dreams and hopes that he could offer his love. Like the heavens (just think "the sky's the limit") his dreams are infinite, and equally precious.
As such, he cautions his love to recognise the worth of what he's offered, and prays that she'd "tread softly" -- i.e. not to take the relationship lightly, because he sure doesn't -- for she "treads upon my dreams".
Of couse, I could elaborate at length, but I've only 15 minutes to spare -- hopefully this gives you a better insight on Yeat's lovely stuff. -
While I agree with most of what you said, I do not agree with the part I quoted above.Originally posted by peebrain:As such, he cautions his love to recognise the worth of what he's offered, and prays that she'd "tread softly" -- i.e. not to take the relationship lightly, because he sure doesn't -- for she "treads upon my dreams".
I do not agree that it is "not to take the relationship lightly."
I prefer to think that is was a critique of the nature of "dreams."
Dreams are fragile and people are easily discouraged from pursuing their dreams.
He had nothing to offer but his dreams and she could easily crushed them. -
Dreams are like cloth, they fray if you tug at them too hard.
My very-fleeting opinion of the theme.. -
I'm not sure if the writer is actually "in" a relationship with the lady in question ...
and I'm not sure the "dreams" are to be taken literally ...
it reads like someone who has no wealth or talents, nothing very much to offer but his love, baring his heart to her ... that his love was all that he could offer ...
I remember this very well ... this was one of "our" poem ... long ago and far away ....
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first of all, this poem isn't representative of the writer's opinion -- the "I" is a literary persona.
So he isn't "in" a relationship per se, but the persona is directing his heartfelt plea to someone else. Maybe it's a "she", or "he", who knows? -snicker
And yes, dreams could mean a litany of things -- talent, aspiration, material possessions -- that are of enduring value to the persona, and are as precious as the "cloths of heaven".[/i] -
Reminds me of the poetry I wrote with her too. I did most of the writing, and I can say I wooed her with stanzas and lyrical odes.Originally posted by Fatum:I'm not sure if the writer is actually "in" a relationship with the lady in question ...
and I'm not sure the "dreams" are to be taken literally ...
it reads like someone who has no wealth or talents, nothing very much to offer but his love, baring his heart to her ... that his love was all that he could offer ...
I remember this very well ... this was one of "our" poem ... long ago and far away .... 