(13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939 / County Dublin / Ireland)

poet William Butler Yeats
#15 on top 500 poets
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Brown Penny

I WHISPERED, 'I am too young,'
And then, 'I am old enough';
Wherefore I threw a penny
To find out if I might love.
'Go and love, go and love, young man,
If the lady be young and fair.'
Ah, penny, brown penny, brown penny,
I am looped in the loops of her hair.
O love is the crooked thing,
There is nobody wise enough
To find out all that is in it,
For he would be thinking of love
Till the stars had run away
And the shadows eaten the moon.
Ah, penny, brown penny, brown penny,
One cannot begin it too soon.

Submitted: Tuesday, May 15, 2001
Edited: Tuesday, May 15, 2001


Read poems about / on: hair, moon, love, running, star

Comments about this poem (Brown Penny by William Butler Yeats )

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  • Robert Henry (3/30/2012 9:00:00 PM)

    I love this poem, heard it for the first time this week.

    7 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Menchie Nolasco (1/5/2010 12:07:00 AM)

    lovely, lovely poem. i heard it first from christopher plummer in Must Love Dogs.

    14 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Allison McDowell (7/31/2009 9:29:00 AM)

    i loved Must Love Dogs. it was hillarious. this poem is veryenlightning to the heart and soul. i love this poem

    8 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • David Musser (8/2/2005 2:02:00 PM)

    'Brown Penny' is performed/read aloud in the new movie Must Love Dogs. It is recited by the father at a family gathering, but he seemed to intend it specifically for his daughter (the main character) who was searching for love (with much frustration) .

    This poem is beautiful in many ways. Unfortunately, it is not listed in most anthologies that include Yeats.

    8 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
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