Keep Reading
The poem “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by William Butler Yeats is a beautiful, lyrical piece that speaks to the longing of an individual in great need. In this poem, Aedh dreams of draping the heavens with their clothes, wishing he had the means of doing so, and expressing his love for someone through the metaphor of using heavenly fabrics. This is a powerful message about love and longing due to being unable to provide gifts or resources that truly express one's appreciation for another person.
The poem starts off with Aedh describing what he would do if he had access to these heavenly creations. He mentions embroidered cloths that are ‘Enwrought with golden and silver light’, as well as dark cloths made from ‘night and light and half light'. These descriptions give us a sense of grandeur, showing us how beautiful these fabrics must be. It also emphasizes the unattainable nature of Aedh's wish - even having access to these materials does not guarantee success, since they are too delicate and intricate to realistically drape over anything besides a celestial expanse.
The second stanza highlights how despite how much Aedh desires it, he is unable to procure such materials due to his poverty. Instead, all he can offer are his dreams which were spread out under the feet of his beloved - implying that perhaps his dreams should be stepped on lightly in consideration of their fragility. Here there is an interesting contrast between what Aedh wishes he could have been able to do (drape fabric from heaven under someone’s feet) versus what he actually can do (spread out his intangible dreams). This juxtaposition further adds emphasis on how lacking in material possessions Aedh is while at the same time emphasizing how meaningful even intangible gifts can be in some cases.
The language used throughout this poem is beautiful and evocative; Yeats was able to use imagery and descriptive words in order to create a vivid picture within readers' minds without overwhelming them with too many details or descriptions. With its simple yet powerful message about love and longing, this poem speaks volumes without taking up too many words - something that greatly appeals to readers who appreciate minimalism as well as those who prefer more elaborate poetry pieces.
In conclusion, “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by William Butler Yeats is a stunningly beautiful piece of poetry that speaks volumes about love and longing despite one's lack of resources or tangible possessions. Through its eloquent yet minimalistic language style, vivid imagery, contrasting motifs, and poignant metaphors, this poem provides readers with an emotionally-rich experience that resonates deep within anyone who reads it - making it an exemplary example of poetic literature at its finest.
Keep Reading