The Song of the Wandering Aengus – W.B. Yates

The Song of the Wandering Aengus

W.B. Yates

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 moth-like 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 a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And some one 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 hands;
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.

1899


Please find below a version by Christy Moore – one of Ireland’s best known folk singers and songwriters.





Mike Scott of the Waterboys has also used this poem as the basis for a song – but there doesn’t appear to be a youtube link for that…yet!

A Poetry Moment