The Lake isle at Innisfree
by W.B. Yeats
1865—1939
Lens 1: Surface
- The poet-speaker plans an escape, in his mind, from the city to the lakeside. He shares the vision of his 'happy place'.
Lens 2: Sound
- I will arise and go now: a decision made in the moment, a quiet exit, no goodbyes. He repeats it - but doesn't start the journey.
- Peace comes dropping slow as does the poem.
Lens 3: Structure
- The poet-speaker opens with an escape plan: go to the lakeside and build a little house and garden.
- The speaker shares what his 'happy place' looks and sounds like: soft hues and soft sounds of insects humming.
- We see where he is now - standing on the city pavement listening to his heart's desire: waves lapping the shore - like a heartbeat.
Lens 4: Suggestion
- Soft and slow solitude in contrast to, one assumes, a loud, crowded, noisy city made of hard pavement.
Lens 5: Significance
- Longing for escape. Longing for peace and solitude. Such a common human experience.
- Do you have a quiet place to go, where you can be alone and just breathe?