The Song of the Wandering Aengus - W.B. Yates

The Song of the Wandering Aengus 

W.B. Yates

I WENT out to the hazel wood,

Because a fire was in my head,

And cut and peeled a hazel wand,

And hooked a berry to a thread;

And when white moths were on the wing,

And moth-like stars were flickering out,

I dropped the berry in a stream

And caught a little silver trout.

 

When I had laid it on the floor

I went to blow the fire a-flame,

But something rustled on the floor,

And some one called me by my name:

It had become a glimmering girl

With apple blossom in her hair

Who called me by my name and ran

And faded through the brightening air.

 

Though I am old with wandering

Through hollow lands and hilly lands,

I will find out where she has gone,

And kiss her lips and take her hands;

And walk among long dappled grass,

And pluck till time and times are done

The silver apples of the moon,

The golden apples of the sun. 

 

1899

Please find below a version by Christy Moore - one of Ireland's best known folk singers and songwriters. 

Mike Scott of the Waterboys has also used this poem as the basis for a song - but there doesn't appear to be a youtube link for that...yet!

 

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