The poem
Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
That this poem, although famous originally, was made more famous by the movie "Equilibrium" as this isn't one of his best works. Although touching, it doesn't pierce your soul like his others do, it makes you feel the pain of those who have nothing.
Beatiful poem but hard to translate into my language. I'll do my best because I want to tell it someone I love. I'll remember this poem.[No I haven't found it because Equilibrium:P]
I read this poem for the first time when I was 15. I was going through hell with coping with adolescence and my emotions at the time (still am a bit, as I'm still only 17 and a half! LOL). I was suffering from unrequited love myself, and this poem hit me pretty hard. It felt great to know that someone else years and years ago went through hell too. Thank God I've found love now! :-)
This poem has some magical aura about it, I can't put it into words. All of Yeats' poetry has, but this one... Maybe it's because everyone has identified with it at some stage.
P.S; Yeats rules!! And he was Irish! ;-)
I first heard this poem recited by Anthony Hopkins in 84 Charing Cross Road. It touched me so much it was recited at my wedding. Even now that I am divorced my ex and I still are the best of friends and this poem still means alot to both of us and I hope it reaches out to others as it does to me. Vulnerable beauty. Human frailty in all it's wonderful weaknesses and strengths at once. Only a dozen things in life will ever truly move you. This is one of mine. I read the message from Alison in Ireland and I knew I had a kindred spirit. Mike
i remember when i heard this poem for the first time on equilibrium, recited by sean beane, just before he got shot, he was reading "the poetry of yeats" and when i heard this poem, it touched me deeply, it by far is my favourite poem, i enjoy reading it every time, it seems although it was aimed at people who are going through hard times and such, i know i was and that put things into perspective for me, i'd recommend it to anyone.
-davey-
I first heard the last line while watching 'women talking dirty'. It immediately made me think about the woman who is now with the man I adore. You could say that we are all friends but I am sure that she does not know of the depth of love for him. Nevertheless, if there was one message that I would send to her, this poem would be it because as much as I may desire to be with this man, I would gladly want her to have him as a partner because of his qualities. Unfortunately, it is me who is poor in this instant because I can only dream of having him and as a result, I'd say "tread softly, you tread on my dreams".
I am gay, and now, at the age of 60, I have met a wonderful woman with whom I would like to spend the rest of my life. However she has been badly hurt in a past relationship and is finding it difficult to give of herself again. I remembered this poem from my schooldays, and have given it to her to let her know I understand how she feels.
When I heard this poem again - while watching one of my favorite love stories, 84 Charing Cross Road - I had to push the pause button and look it up immediately(ah, the wonders of the Internet). My husband is dead. There is no one to tread softly on my dreams.
Like Davey Monk, i also heard this poem for the first time on the film 'Equilibrium'. I thought it was a good poem at the time, but I didn't know why. But I heard it again more recently, recited by a housemate on Big Brother, of all places. And its that that made me look the whole thing up again here. I don't know what it is exactly, its been better described by other people here, but this poem is quite special somehow, and is one of my favourites along with poems like 'If'. It requires you to think about its meaning, and in doing that you can findall sorts of hidden messages... Its very nice...
even if this poem clearly draws sympathy for the poor i feel that it also surgest that we r all poor without our dreams and that our dreans should be shared yes i have seen this poem from Equilibrium and big brother but i have been familiar with it for years. this poem touches me wenever i read it i can not put into words the way this poem makes me feel it is a combination of sadness and happyness but watever it makes me fell this poem is great
I join the other commentators on this poem in expressing how deeply this poem moved me the first time I heard it and every time since (yes, I also saw Equilibrium). I am glad that contemperary films have wakened a thirst for classic poetry in young people. I hope this trend continues in the future.
I saw this poem at the Yeats memorial and grave in Drumcliffe, Ireland last week. (Fitting that it was pouring rain!) It's a beautiful poem and very moving, so I had to look it up.
Am I losing the plot or is this poem not touching on 'that love' full of the beauty, charm, strength, and harmony that is within us all but is, sadly, so rarely mutually shared!
its a very special poem... I first heard it (as many others) in the film Equilibrium... I knew i had to look it up! It still is vague to me why my skin crawls when i hear it, but i think it all comes down to the last words... "tread softly, because you tread on my dreams". seems like the man who wishes so much for more, is willing to give (to someone special perhaps?) everything he has... that's all folks, keep up the good work! cheers
I first saw and heard this poem in the movie Equilibirum, like many other and had to look it up to understand the meaning and just to hear it again. maybe im just stretching what this poem could mean, please tell me if i am, but is the narrator comparing his dreams to that of the expensive cloth. And by placing it under someone's feet showing that he is taking a risk and professing his love and hoping that that person doesnt break his heart? I dunno, whatever the meaning i think that it is a great poem!
Maybe I'm mistaken here, but it seems to me that material poverty is not really the issue here. As I understand the poem, Yeats is talking about feeling that the object of your love deserves the very best, even beyond what it is possible for anyone to give, but since he can't give that, he offers the most precious thing he has - his dreams, his love - and prays they will be appreciated, because they're so fragile. Seems to me that "being poor" refers to the sense of being unable to give his lover what he feels she truly deserves, which is impossible, (in other words, a kind of "relative poverty") not poverty in the ordinary material sense.
I also first heard this poem recited in the movie equilibrium. I guess it moved me because of the emotion that the actor expressed while reading it. I love this poem because though it is short,it is very beautiful.
Like many other lovers of this poem, i first heard it on "Equilibrium". I was always mezmirized by it, and the intencity of the scene inhanced the meaning of it. The movie also carried out the theme of the essence of this poem. All we have left in the world after riches, poverty, love, hate, life, and in death are our dreams. what we wish, what makes us happy and what we are willing to give up to be happy and to make that one special person in our life love us unconditionally.My newest friend told me that all he wants is to be happy. How simple! Just like the poem "He wishes for the cloths of heaven" this concept is short, simple and to the point.
I believe this poem touches on a myriad of different themes, which many of the previous posts have touched on. For me, the last two lines are the most impacting: "I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." It shows the uncertainty of love, the fear of being rejected, yet the necessity of taking risks. One can only love truly when he or she gives fully of him or herself.…
Read the whole commentI believe this poem touches on a myriad of different themes, which many of the previous posts have touched on. For me, the last two lines are the most impacting: "I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." It shows the uncertainty of love, the fear of being rejected, yet the necessity of taking risks. One can only love truly when he or she gives fully of him or herself. Giving fully means we share all those things that make us who we are, including those things that are most secret and sacred to us. Our dreams (which I believe has a positive connotation) inspire us, lift us, give us hope. Yates' love for this person is so strong he has spread that which is most precious to him under her feet. Then, to finish the poem, he writes a simple plea: "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." Anyone who has loved someone and given them all they could of themself and has not received that same love in return will understand how he feels. "Tread softly." What a beautiful way to describe the fear he had (and I believe we all have) of loving but not being loved. Beautiful poem.
It's lovely. I first heard it during an english class and had to figure it out. I've translated it to my language, but the translation doesn't capture the meaning and the power of the words put forth by Mr. Yeats.
GG.
I heard this poem once looking the movie "84 Chearing Cross Road". May be I read it during my studies of english poetry at the age of grammar school. But may be I was too young, then, to find my eyes full of tears, as today, reading it. Even if my heart had wished for the Cloths of Heaven early, my life has answered about them later, forming each day as the weft of cloths. When the dreams have been written along the…
Read the whole commentI heard this poem once looking the movie "84 Chearing Cross Road". May be I read it during my studies of english poetry at the age of grammar school. But may be I was too young, then, to find my eyes full of tears, as today, reading it. Even if my heart had wished for the Cloths of Heaven early, my life has answered about them later, forming each day as the weft of cloths. When the dreams have been written along the life, and given to someone that it seems the one you were deeply waiting for, and spread under her feet... but she doesn't love dreams, and you, at last.
She doesn't tread on my dreams any more. I am walking on the next days of my life, not so much as the ones past, looking for poetry as usual. The colours of the days, shapes of the clouds, depth of the sea, with the whole is living there, are my places.
Waiting for the Heaven? I don't really know, feeling my dreams so empty and poor now.
I would thank the spirit of William Yates to have written so deep to make him alive forever in the people who tread on his dreams softly.
I, too, first heard this poem when recited by the marvelous actor, Sean Bean, in "Equilibrium". His splendid recitation gave the plea such dignity.
I read this poem today first time and felt very, very nice sounded. This poem is a reason of a wonderful love to others and a sound of beautiful heart. An imagination creates a new thing and it can approach to reality after a hard step to gain it. Imagination comes from the bottom of heart and mind then people like to make it reality in the wonderful world. It is very nice sounded poem very short but beautiful. It…
Read the whole commentI read this poem today first time and felt very, very nice sounded. This poem is a reason of a wonderful love to others and a sound of beautiful heart. An imagination creates a new thing and it can approach to reality after a hard step to gain it. Imagination comes from the bottom of heart and mind then people like to make it reality in the wonderful world.
It is very nice sounded poem very short but beautiful. It is not possible to finish if we try to emphasize in words because it's mean is so long and so wide like horizon or like blue sky. The imagination of heaven, the imagination of decorated clothes and a very caring friend who can't see a agony of her feet and just he like to see her hearty welcome! So this is very beautiful poem and it touches to all human heart of the world and directs them to keep beautiful love instinct, what helps to save the world.
This poem is a very moving tribute to a woman, suggesting the power she has over her lover.
He has nothing to offer her but his dreams, perhaps dreams of a future together, and he asks that she respects his dreams.
i first studied this poem in school.and i feel that the issue in this poem is dissapointment for yeats because i got the feeling that yeats thought he didn't deserve the women he is talking about
I dont really believe the poem is talking about love for so than admiration. I believe that because he wants to put the clothes of heaven under another person's feet could be refering to putting them more so on a pedestal really. I mean you can love someone and you can admire someone too. This poems is my absolute favorite but reading it could never compare to the choir piece. Sure it is the orginal but it lacks so…
Read the whole commentI dont really believe the poem is talking about love for so than admiration. I believe that because he wants to put the clothes of heaven under another person's feet could be refering to putting them more so on a pedestal really. I mean you can love someone and you can admire someone too.
This poems is my absolute favorite but reading it could never compare to the choir piece. Sure it is the orginal but it lacks so much emphasis. You can read it fast because you're a good reader and can't wait to have that result feeling after reading a moving piece, or you can read it slow and be the one who soaks us every word but regardless hearing someone else say it can be much more fulfilling. But like I said before it lacks much emphasis over the choir piece. As a choir student, I sang this piece and its was so...amazing! In the song version (depending one the composer), the line where he talks about being poor is repeated. This repetition is used to show that we relized we are only poor and yes, we only have our dreams. The music at this point isn't has flowing as it was original, but then it continues to move when we say " I spread my dreams under your feet". It's like that us being poor won't stop us from giving our all. we continue through the song repeating the first part "had I the heavens..." skip the "poor" part and go straight to the end. Here the end is very light and sincere. we stretch the word softly and the notes fall. we end one dreams, which is stretch out the longest and it slowly fades. When hearing the piece, it gives you the imagery with the notes aswell as the words. When reading the poem over and over again, it feels to expected or just simple.
I first came upon this poem watching 84 charring cross road, i was blown away and have read everything by this poet since, i always get tears in my eyes and feel so emotional when i read it slowly, i noticed someone said they sang it , id love to hear it any info on how i would get hold of a copy of it to music?
To hear Anthony Hopkins read this poem in '84 Charing Cross Road' was one of those beautiful memories in life. It's one of those times you want to put that feeling into a bottle and capture forever.
I came across this on the Beeb's "Poetry Pod" - amazing! like a light being turned on…
Is "He wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" Yeats' translation of a poem from another language?
This is a poem my Father recited often, it gave me goose bumps then and now many years after his passing I still feel the emotions rise - the reality in my life of his experience and now my own. It is poignant still but I am encouraged by knowing the cloths of heaven still exist to dream for.
idk
i just have to do this poem for class. i wouldnt normally ever reed poems in the first place if i wasnt put in a accelerated english class. and well, idc about my typing rite now cuz im ont he weekend.
Analysis
I read it a little differently. It seems like a story of a simple man who falls in love with a beautiful but materialistic woman, and wishes to please her by giving her everything she wants. But he does not have what she wants, so he gives her the most precocious thing he has, his dreams. So he pleads that she not trample them, and accept his love instead.