Thinking about the Poem
1. What kind of place is Innisfree? Think about:
(i) the three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I);
(ii) what he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II);
(iii) what he hears in his "heart's core" even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III).
(i) The poet wants to build a small cabin of clay and wattles, plant nine rows of beans, and keep a hive for honeybees.
(ii) He hears the cricket's song and sees the glimmering midnight and the glowing rooms. These sounds and sights bring him peace and soothe his mind.
(iii) Even when he is far away, he hears the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore in his "heart's core."
2. By now you may have concluded that Innisfree is a simple, natural place, full of beauty and peace. How does the poet contrast it with where he now stands? (Read stanza III.)
Answer: The poet contrasts Innisfree with the city where he now stands. He says he stands on "pavements grey" — a dull, lifeless, and artificial environment. In contrast, Innisfree is full of natural beauty, colour, and peace. Even while standing on the grey pavements, he hears the lake water lapping in his heart's core, showing how deeply connected he is to Innisfree.
3. Do you think Innisfree is only a place, or a state of mind? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days?
Answer: Innisfree is both a real place and a state of mind. It represents the poet's desire for peace, simplicity, and a life close to nature. Yes, the poet actually misses the place of his boyhood days. Even when he is away from it, he recalls the sound of the lake water washing the shore, showing that it holds a special place in his heart.
II. 1. Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree:
(i) bee-loud glade
(ii) evenings full of the linnet's wings
(iii) lake water lapping with low sounds
What pictures do these words create in your mind?
(i) Bee-loud glade: It brings to mind a sunny clearing where the air is full of the steady buzzing of bees, suggesting warmth and life.
(ii) Evenings full of the linnet's wings: It suggests gentle dusk skies alive with small birds flying and calling, adding movement and music.
(iii) Lake water lapping with low sounds: It evokes a quiet shoreline where soft, repeated ripples make a calming, regular background noise. Together, these images create a scene of gentle, natural tranquillity.
2. Look at these words:
...peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings
What do these words mean to you? What do you think "comes dropping slow...from the veils of the morning"? What does "to where the cricket sings" mean?
Answer: These lines mean that peace arrives gradually and gently, like dew or mist that falls with the first light of morning. The phrase "comes dropping slow...from the veils of the morning" suggests calm descending softly with dawn. "To where the cricket sings" indicates a peaceful, natural place where one can hear the vibrant sounds of nature, such as the songs of crickets at dawn.
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