The poem
When I play on my fiddle in Dooney. Folk dance like a wave of the sea; My cousin is priest in Kilvarnet, My brother in Mocharabuiee.
I passed my brother and cousin: They read in their books of prayer; I read in my book of songs I bought at the Sligo fair.
When we come at the end of time To Peter sitting in state, He will smile on the three old spirits, But call me first through the gate;
For the good are always the merry, Save by an evil chance, And the merry love the fiddle, And the merry love to dance:
And when the folk there spy me, They will all come up to me, With 'Here is the fiddler of Dooney!' And dance like a wave of the sea.
Is it more correct to pronounce 'read' in line 2 of verse 2 as 'present' or as 'past' tense. I assume past but can see a case for present. Does anyone know precisely please?
It's past tense. I know because I've heard Yeats reciting this poem online. Try find it, because when ye hear the poet himself saying the poem it's so much more than words on the page!! :o)
Thank you Alison D'Arcy for the link to hear Yeats reciting the Fiddler. Notice he has his brother in Kilvarnet and his cousin in Moharabuiee. I plan to recite this at a Twelfth Night celebration being presented by the Wild Geese. His pronounciation of read as raid is also helpful. There will be some purists who will insist his cousin is in Kilvarnet!! I'm also part of a group of four lads who will sing The Wren Song. I have many lyrics but cannot find the tune. Any help would be appreciated.
Bob Callahan
Stamford, Connecticut
You're very welcome Bob Callahan! ;o)