wandering aengus

One of two poems by W.B.Yeats I've written music for. The other is A Drunken Man's Praise for Sobriety.

Wandering Aengus

I went out to the hazel wood
because a fire was in my head
and cut and peeled a hazel wand
and hooked a berry to a thread
and when white moths were on the wing
and mothlike stars were flickering out
I dropped the berry in a stream
and caught a little silver trout

when I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame
but something rustled on the floor
and someone called me by my name
it had become a glimmering girl
with apple blossom in her hair
who called me by my name and ran
and faded through the brightening air

though I am old with wandering
through hollow lands and hilly lands
I will find out where she has gone
and kiss her lips and take her hand
and walk among long dappled grass
and pluck till time and times are done
the silver apples of the moon
the golden apples of the sun


lyrics by W.B.Yeats
music copyright 2003 randy sutherland
from the CD 'the sky starts at your feet'