Down by quiet paths of memory
Love once stood close to me
Youth breathed without fear
Down By The Salley Gardens
Soft feet touched the earth
Time felt gentle and slow
She spoke with a calm heart
Love should grow like leaves
Patient, natural, free
But I was burning and proud
I rushed against her wisdom
I chose noise over peace
Down By The Salley Gardens
A river heard our silence
Hands trembled, hearts waited
Life whispered through green grass
Move slowly, grow softly
Do not force the day
I did not listen then
Youth blinded my hearing
Truth came too late
Now tears carry the lesson
Regret walks beside memory
Love fades but teaches
Down By The Salley Gardens
Still bloom inside my heart
A warning wrapped in beauty
Read More: https://truehymns.com/acquainted-with-the-night/
“Down By The Salley Gardens” Summary
“Down By The Salley Gardens” is a short, emotional lyric poem by William Butler Yeats about love, youth, and regret. The speaker remembers meeting his beloved near the salley gardens, a peaceful natural setting. She advises him to take love and life gently, just as nature grows slowly and naturally. However, the speaker admits that he was young and foolish and did not listen to her wise words.
As time passes, he realizes his mistake. The poem ends with deep sadness, showing that ignoring wisdom in youth can lead to lifelong regret. Through simple language and natural images, the poem teaches that patience, understanding, and calm are essential in both love and life.
