Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Makes you want to visit Ireland, doesn’t it?

Five Points would like to wish everyone a happy St. Patrick’s day! When it comes to poetry, there are plenty of incredible Irish poets, some of which you can find here at the Poetry Foundation’s website. One of the more famous ones is William Butler Yeats, who’s penned such well-known poems as “The Second Coming” and this one, “Down By the Salley Gardens“:

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Down By the Salley Gardens

By William Butler Yeats

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Down by the salley gardens

   my love and I did meet;

She passed the salley gardens

   with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy,

   as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish,

   with her would not agree.

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In a field by the river

   my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder

   she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy,

   as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish,

   and now am full of tears.

Although a bit melancholy, it’s a beautiful poem, and a lovely song as well. Just look it up on youtube if you don’t believe me–here are some of my favorite song versions: this one by Maura O’Connell with Karen Matheson; this one by Orla Fallon (of Celtic Woman); this fully instrumental version; and this Japanese version. (Fun fact: there’s actually a Japanese anime called Fractale that uses this song as its ending credits song)

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There are plenty more Irish poems for you to enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day, so why not check them out?

Sheep!

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