William Butler Yeats

The Cloak, The Boat And The Shoes

'What do you make so fair and bright? ' 'I make the cloak of Sorrow: O lovely to see in all men's sight Shall be the cloak of Sorrow, In all men's sight. ' 'What do you build with sails for flight? ' 'I build a boat for Sorrow: O swift on the seas all day and night Saileth the rover Sorrow, All day and night. ' What do you weave with wool so white? ' 'I weave the shoes of Sorrow: Soundless shall be the footfall light In all men's ears of Sorrow, Sudden and light. '