If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
William Butler YeatsRead
The unpurged images of day recede; The Emperor's drunken soldiery are abed; Night resonance recedes, night-walkers' song After great cathedral gong.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the transition from day to night and the fading of vivid memories into silence.
In this excerpt from his poem, Yeats captures the end of the day as life’s chaos gives way to night’s calm. The imagery of unpurged images fading into darkness symbolizes how intense experiences can become distant and muted, and the reference to the Emperor's soldiers suggests a connection to both the beauty and turmoil of life, culminating in the stillness that comes with night. It evokes a sense of reflection and the passage of time, where memories wane and tranquility takes over.
Themes
NightMemorySilenceTransitionReflection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a poetry reading to illustrate the beauty of night.
More from William Butler Yeats
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