The poem
Dance there upon the shore; What need have you to care For wind or water's roar? And tumble out your hair That the salt drops have wet; Being young you have not known The fool's triumph, nor yet Love lost as soon as won, Nor the best labourer dead And all the sheaves to bind. What need have you to dread The monstrous crying of wind!
the innocence of a child, not knowing what lies ahead...yeats' lyricism is so beautiful...i've always been impressed that yeats, as a mystic and occultist, would write a poem such as this one which expresses the reality and pain of life...but he was an irish poet after all and had a special gift!!
To a child dancing in the wind
I want to know meaning about this. Who can help me?
Dance there upon the shore;
What need have you to care
For wind or water’s roar?
And tumble out your hair
That the salt drops have wet;
Being young you have not known
The fool’s triumph, nor yet
Love lost as soon as won,
Nor the best labourer dead
And all the sheaves to bind.
What need have you to dread
The monstrous crying of wind!