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.
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.
Down By The Salley Gardens by William Butler Yeats • 382 poems by William Butler YeatsEdit
Poetry Classics
← Back to top 100 poetry classics
Our poetry classics archive is reproduced for educational purposes by volunteers, and is provided at no charge. Some poems are public domain, but many are the property of their respective owners. DMCA
- by William Butler Yeats • 382 poems
-
x 0,
4091
views,
12 comments,
10 lines,
print
- Add to my list
W.B.Yeats, poet and playwrite, was born in Dublin Ireland on 13th June 1865, but moved to Chiswick London in 1867 due to his fathers career as a lawyer and did not return to Ireland until 1881, where he studied at the Metropolitan School of Art, it was here that he met fellow poet George Russell who shared his interest in mysticism.
In lists
← All by William Butler Yeats →
By William Butler Yeats, © 1888, All rights reserved.
→ Show additional poem info
Editor notes
First published as 'An Old Song Resung' in The Wanderings of Oisin and other Poems (1889).
Originally an old Irish folk song, Yeats turned this into a poem as a dedication to oral tradition.
Salley= Willow
I know what this poem means because I have lived it.
If there were one thing in my life I'd do over again, it would be to marry that girl instead of leaving her because I took life and love far too seriously.
I was young and ambitious, too strict with myself and with others, too quick to find fault with myself and with others..
I thought if I worked harder to better myself, life would reward me with an even better woman to marry.
I see now what a treasure I threw away so many years ago--I am sad, and also horrified at the miserable life I have made for myself, and--forbid it God--possibly for her, too.
- From guest cristina (contact)
I also think that poem about love, but his love is not happy, becouse he lost her, and now "full of tears" - Such beautiful and touching poetry. Just lovely.
I thought this poem was about...
When I first heard this poem, I thought it was about a man who was in love, but then the person he loved left his life (by dying) and now he is left in tears. I thought the lesson was that you shouldn't rush eagerly into matters like love. What do you guys think?Willow/Life Lessons
From guest June (contact)
When pondering this poem, I also think of the pagan association of the willow, and the use of emotional weirs we construct to negotiate our lives. If the willow is associated with psychic development (and death), and we don't learn to take our life-learning easy, I guess we do find our lives full of tears...Down By The Salley Gardens
From guest Albert Hobart (contact)
I've always assumed that the young man ravished and murdered the girl he loved because she didn't return his impetuous love. But perhaps my view was infuenced by the fact that I knew (and sang) "Down in the Willow Garden" many years before I read the poem by Yeats.
Down By the Salley Gardens
From guest Katy (contact)
I have to take a test on this poem and I think I sort of like it. My most favorite part is when it says: "She passed the little Salley Gardens with little snow-white feet". This is truely lovely.
For Guest Vicki Urban and others
As it says in the notes this is Yeats' version of an old folk poem about a garden (area of countryside perhaps) where willows grew. A nice shaded area where lovers could meet in shade and seclusion.
Which particular area inspired the original writer is now lost in antiquity though many places in Ireland claim to be the original site I believe.
Jim
jimWhere are the Salley Gardens?
From guest Vicki Urban (contact)
Is this an actual place that one might visit, or is it an imaginary one? Perhaps it is a description of a type of garden?Rose Conley-Salley Gardens
This is the ballad that seems related to "The Salley Gardens":
ROSE CONLEY
Down in the willow garden
Where me and my love did meet
Oh there we sit a-courting
My love dropped off to sleep
I had a bottle of the burglar's wine
Which my true love did not know
And there I poisoned my own true love
Down under the banks below
I drew my sabre (pron 'saybree') through her
Which was a bloody knife
I threw her in the river
Which was a dreadful sight
My father always taught me
That money would set me free
If I'd murder that pretty little miss
Whose name is Rose Conley
He's sitting now in his own cottage door
A-wiping his weeping eyes
A-looking at his own dear son
Upon the scaffold high
My race is run beneath the sun
Though hell's now waiting for me
I did murder that pretty little miss
Whose name is Rose Conley
Source: G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter 'Rose Conley'. Recorded Atlanta GA 18 October 1927. Transcribed from 'The Recordings of Grayson & Whitter' County CD 3517.
Charley NobleOld Song Resung
Much different from the old Irish ballad where the young man murders "that dear little girl, Rose Connally." In the ballad he does that to please his father who does not consider the young woman a good enough match for him. And then he is hung for the murder.
Charley Noble
Quotes and meaning
From guest Ice (contact)
When the lady said "take love easy" and "take life easy", she really meant it. The man was "young an foolish" and did not listen to her. Later on, he got dumped because he was rushing their love. The lady makes the analogy "as the leaves grow on the tree", saying how love must grow, and not rushed in to. The poet uses "snow-white hands" and "snow-white feet" to show the lady's innocence. It was not her fault that the man was dumped. It was his fault for not listening to her. This poem has a beautiful meaning to it, it is one of my favorites.Lovely Poem
From guest Ice (contact)
This is a really nice love poem, I'm learning about in English class.YEATS AND LOVE
From guest Bob Watt (contact)
There has to be a place in the hearts of we sentient beings for the exquisite sadness of so much of what Yeats wrote. Emotions don't have to be upbeat for them to be beautiful, and though there are a few poets whom I love, Yeats is the one who gets into my heart most often. The tune to which it is sung adds a lovely dimension to it. While I'm here - go listen to "The Stolen Child" performed by the Waterboys!this poem
From guest kaiia (contact)
this poem is a wonderful love poem and there is no way that one person would be able to say that it is horrible all together it is truly great !choice
From guest Barry Kew (contact)
Doesn't it relate to Yeats's poem 'The Choice'? She bids him to perfect the life but he chooses to perfect the work – with the consequences laid out in that poem.- the rhyme is nice, not every line rhymes but it still flows like its not forced, its wonderful ~Amy
what is this song about????
From guest Amy (contact)
i really like this song and ive been looking and trying to find out what this song is about.Does anyone know what its saying...like the message of the song.all i get when i look for it is lyrics and thats not what im looking for.SO someone anyone please tell me the message of the song please.Take Love Easy
From guest Jack Chambers (contact)
Duke Ellington wrote a love song called "Take Love Easy" in 1947. His title obviously alludes to line 3 of Yeats's poem. It is uncertain whether the title is Ellington's or John Latouche's, Ellington's lyricist. The mood seems right, though 58 years separates the the two works.Beautiful
From guest harry shapiro (contact)
I was researching the Play Dancing at Lughnasa and I find the reference to this lovely poem.beautiful village
From guest Leona (contact)
I am born and bread in the beautiful village of Ballysadare of which Yeats wrote this unrequited love poem to his grandparents home and his experience on the Sally Gardens. The sally gardens still stand testimate today to Yeats love affair with Sligo!! I still hum its heartwrenching lyrical tune everyday!Fantastic
A tale of unrequited love, or of a man who didn't take the chance of love when it presented itself to him? Whatever way you look at this, Yeats was a master craftsman. His generation was still only evolving yet his work was modern and fresh. I could re-read this or "He Wishes For The Cloths of Heaven" over and over again and would always read it as though reading it for the first time. Yeats, besides Stephen King, being Irish and a poet, is and was, my only poetic inspiration (I guess I could actually include Shakespeare and Donne in that group as other inspirations.) I love poetry. I always have and I always will. For as long as I draw breath I will keep writing poetry. I may not emulate those I have mentioned but it is privilege enough to be considered a poet (by others) and therefore counted among them though not in the same league as W.B. Yeats.
Shauna D.Nice poem
The poem has a romantic touch but actually the maturity or the arrogant nature of the females is described in comparison with the male's attitude towards love. Men, by nature are more responsive in love affairs...and every time they come across such a situation where there is an opportunity of falling in love with the opposite sex, they show extra ordinary enthusiasm. This poem is a beautiful demonstration of this phenomenon. very nice analogy.- spontaneous emotions ... good flow of words and rhyme ... especially the simplicity in expression...
Divine
A poem filled with remorse, but beautiful simplicity wrote complex emotions. I especially loved the lyrical elements in here, making it a sad breeze touching the (weeping) willows.
Also: the lovely reference to, firstly, "snow-white feet" and secondly, "snow-white hand" breathes of purity and of tenderness; of walking in grace and of gentle touch. Yet, as snow, the connection was cold and could not convey its intended warmth. Thus, the poet mourned the loss ...
MyraVery nice
It seems a bit young in its form, but the overall sentiment is rather touching.beautiful
This is one of my very favorite poems by my favorite poet W.B.Yeats. The poem is about having different opinions on such a subject on which no two persons can agree upon...Love…every one has his point of view and his set of experiences in this matter…this is a very simple yet sweet poem.- Oh the folly of young passion, how many an eager child man has fallen to his racing desirers, and found his hopes have flown?
Yet another superb poem by Mr Yeats.
Andrew
