Poem by W.W. Yeats



Where dips the rocky highland

Of sleuth wood in the lake

There lies a leafy island

Where flapping herons wake

The drowsy water rats

There we've hid our fairy vats

Full of berries

And of reddest stolen cherries.



Come away, oh human child

To the waters and the wild

With a faery hand in hand

For the world's more full of weeping

Than you can understand.



Where the wave of moonlight glosses

The dim grey sands with light

By far off furthest rosses

We foot it all the night

Weaving olden dances

Mingling hands and mingling glances

Till the moon has taken flight

To and fro we leap

And chase the frothy bubbles

Whilst the world is full of troubles

And is anxious in its sleep.



Away with us he's going

The solemned eyed

He'll hear no more the lowing

Of the calves on the warm hillside

Or the kettle on the hob

Sing peace into his breast

Or see the brown mice bob

Round and round the oatmeal chest.



For he comes, the human child

To the waters and the wild

With a faery hand in hand

For the world's more full of weeping

Than you can understand.