These Are the Clouds
These Are the Clouds - meaning Summary
Erosion of Worldly Greatness
Yeats presents an image of clouds around a fallen sun to reflect on the transience of worldly greatness. The poem says power and status are temporary; what is elevated will be humbled and all will lie at a common level. Yet the speaker offers consolation: having pursued or lived with greatness remains valuable even if it passes, and mourning its loss does not erase the worth of that companionship.
Read Complete AnalysesThese are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye: The weak lay hand on what the strong has done, Till that be tumbled that was lifted high And discord follow upon unison, And all things at one common level lie. And therefore, friend, if your great race were run And these things came, So much the more thereby Have you made greatness your companion, Although it be for children that you sigh: These are the clouds about the fallen sun, The majesty that shuts his burning eye.
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