Mythology & Folklore

The Mountain Tomb

by W. B. Yeats 1865–1939

From Responsibilities (1914)

Mythology & FolkloreDeath & Dying

Pour wine and dance if Manhood still have pride,
Bring roses if the rose be yet in bloom;
The cataract smokes upon the mountain side,
Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb.

Pull down the blinds, bring fiddle and clarionet
That there be no foot silent in the room
Nor mouth from kissing, nor from wine unwet;
Our Father Rosicross is in his tomb.

In vain, in vain; the cataract still cries
The everlasting taper lights the gloom;
All wisdom shut into his onyx eyes
Our Father Rosicross sleeps in his tomb.

✦ ✦ ✦

Mourners are told to pour wine and dance at the tomb of Father Rosicross, because the cataract still cries and 'all wisdom shut into his onyx eyes' sleeps in the tomb.

MLA

Yeats, W. B. “The Mountain Tomb.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/yeats/35/.

Chicago

Yeats, W. B. “The Mountain Tomb.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/yeats/35/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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