Parting

William Butler Yeats

He. Dear, I must be gone
While night Shuts the eyes
Of the household spies;
That song announces dawn.

She. No, night's bird and love's
Bids all true lovers rest,
While his loud song reproves
The murderous stealth of day.

He. Daylight already flies
From mountain crest to crest

She. That light is from the moon.

He. That bird...

She.                     Let him sing on,
I offer to love's play
My dark declivities.

Next 10 Poems

• William Butler Yeats : Paudeen
• William Butler Yeats : Peace
• William Butler Yeats : Politics
• William Butler Yeats : Presences
• William Butler Yeats : Quarrel In Old Age
• William Butler Yeats : Reconciliation
• William Butler Yeats : Red Hanrahan's Song About Ireland
• William Butler Yeats : Remorse For Intemperate Speech
• William Butler Yeats : Responsibilities
• William Butler Yeats : Responsibilities - Closing

Previous 10 Poems

• William Butler Yeats : Parnell's Funeral
• William Butler Yeats : Parnell
• William Butler Yeats : Owen Aherne And His Dancers
• William Butler Yeats : On Woman
• William Butler Yeats : On Those That Hated The 'playboy Of The Western World,' 1907
• William Butler Yeats : On Hearing That The Students Of Our New University Have Joined The Agitation Against Immoral Literature
• William Butler Yeats : On Being Asked For A War Poem
• William Butler Yeats : On A Political Prisoner
• William Butler Yeats : On A Picture Of A Black Centaur By Edmund Dulac
• William Butler Yeats : Old Tom Again