Crazy Jane Talks With The Bishop Poem by William Butler Yeats

Crazy Jane Talks With The Bishop

Rating: 3.1


I met the Bishop on the road
And much said he and I.
'Those breasts are flat and fallen now,
Those veins must soon be dry;
Live in a heavenly mansion,
Not in some foul sty.'

'Fair and foul are near of kin,
And fair needs foul,' I cried.
'My friends are gone, but that's a truth
Nor grave nor bed denied,
Learned in bodily lowliness
And in the heart's pride.

'A woman can be proud and stiff
When on love intent;
But Love has pitched his mansion in
The place of excrement;
For nothing can be sole or whole
That has not been rent.'

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Adeeb Alfateh 19 July 2019

A woman can be proud and stiff When on love intent; But Love has pitched his mansion in The place of excrement; For nothing can be sole or whole That has not been rent.' great crazy poem shared great 10+++++++++++++++++++++++

1 0 Reply
pushpadewa 13 July 2018

Those veins must soon be dry; Live in a heavenly mansion, Not in some foul sty. the sorrow has gain crazy thoughts it nice poem

1 0 Reply
lil Pump 16 April 2018

ASCATAAAAAA Just wow..

1 0 Reply
Trochilus Tales 18 December 2008

Rob, No, I think Crazy Jane is responding to his admonition that she is getting older and should 'Live in a heavenly mansion, Not in some foul sty.' She rejoins that 'foul and fair are near of kin, ' indeed, inextricably related. The last two lines are quite vivid, are they not, with plays on both the words 'sole' and 'whole.'

5 13 Reply
Rob Brennan 16 August 2006

I don't think I really understand this poem. Is everything from 'My friends are gone..' to the the end spoken by the bishop? What do the last two lines mean?

4 7 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats

County Dublin / Ireland
Close
Error Success