Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEGGAR TO BEGGAR CRIED by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

Poet Analysis

First Line: TIME TO PUT OFF THE WORLD AND GO SOMEWHERE
Last Line: "THE WIND-BLOWN CLAMOUR OF THE BARNACLE-GEESE."
Subject(s): BEGGING & BEGGARS;
"Time to put off the world and go somewhere
And find my health again in the sea air,"
@3Beggar to beggar cried, being frenzy-struck@1,
"And make my soul before my pate is bare."

"And get a comfortable wife and house
To rid me of the devil in my shoes,"
@3Beggar to beggar cried, being frenzy-struck@1,
"And the worse devil that is between my thighs."

"And though I'd marry with a comely lass,
She need not be too comely -- let it pass,"
@3Beggar to beggar cried, being frenzy-struck@1,
"But there's a devil in a looking-glass."

"Nor should she be too rich, because the rich
Are driven by wealth as beggars by the itch,"
@3Beggar to beggar cried, being frenzy-struck@1,
"And cannot have a humorous happy speech."

"And there I'll grow respected at my ease,
And hear amid the garden's nightly peace,"
@3Beggar to beggar cried, being frenzy-struck@1,
"The wind-blown clamour of the barnacle-geese."



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