The Happy Townland

There's many a strong farmer

Whose heart would break in two,

If he could see the townland

That we are riding to;

Boughs have their fruit and blossom

At all times of the year;

Rivers are running over

With red beer and brown beer.

An old man plays the bagpipes

In a golden and silver wood;

Queens, their eyes blue like the ice,

Are dancing in a crowd.

The little fox he murmured,

'O what of the world's bane?'

The sun was laughing sweetly,

The moon plucked at my rein;

But the little red fox murmured,

'O do not pluck at his rein,

He is riding to the townland

That is the world's bane.'

When their hearts are so high

That they would come to blows,

They unhook their heavy swords

From golden and silver boughs;

But all that are killed in battle

Awaken to life again.

It is lucky that their story

Is not known among men,

For O, the strong farmers

That would let the spade lie,                                                                                 

Their hearts would be like a cup

That somebody had drunk dry.

The little fox he murmured,

'O what of the world's bane?'

The sun was laughing sweetly,

The moon plucked at my rein;

But the little red fox murmured,

'O do not pluck at his rein,

He is riding to the townland

That is the world's bane.'

Michael will unhook his trumpet

From a bough overhead,

And blow a little noise

When the supper has been spread.

Gabriel will come from the water

With a fish-tail, and talk

Of wonders that have happened

On wet roads where men walk.

And lift up an old horn

Of hammered silver, and drink

Till he has fallen asleep

Upon the starry brink.

The little fox he murmured,

'O what of the world's bane?'

The sun was laughing sweetly,

The moon plucked at my rein;

But the little red fox murmured.

'O do not pluck at his rein,

He is riding to the townland

That is the world's bane.'

Poem by William Butler Yeats