Peace Comes Dropping Slow

In honour of the wonderful poet, William Butler Yeats, who died on this day in the year 1939, Algy invites you to listen again to a unique reading by Yeats himself of Algy’s favourite poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree, in an archive recording published as part of the BBC Poetry Season.

          I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
          And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
          Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
          And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

          And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
          Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
          There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
          And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

          I will arise and go now, for always night and day
          I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
          While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
          I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

Upon St. Patrick’s Day

Algy dyed his hair green, and recited one of his favourite poems:

          I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
          And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
          Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
          And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

          And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
          Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
          There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
          And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

          I will arise and go now, for always night and day
          I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
          While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
          I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

[Listen to The Lake Isle of Innisfree by William Butler Yeats read by the poet himself, in an archive recording published as part of the BBC Poetry Season.]