Red Hanrahan’s Song About Ireland by W.B. Yeats: Poem and Meaning

So what is the poem Red Hanrahan’s Song all about? 

In short, Yeats is talking about a fictional character, ‘Red Hanrahan,’ to make a specific point about idealism. Once again, we get a lot of strong images throughout the poem, for example, “The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand”…

Let’s get to this remarkable poem! 

Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland

By W.B Yeats

He old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.