8. Summary of the poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by W. B. Yeats

"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is written by W. B. Yeats. The poem is divided into three stanzas with four lines each. Hence, each stanza is known as a quatrain.

The poem deals with the speaker's desire to travel to and settle down in the isle of Innisfree. He has planned to do three things when he gets there: build himself a small cabin out of clay and wattles, plant nine rows of beans, and maintain a hive for the honeybees.

The speaker believes that Innisfree would let him have some peace. According to him, peace comes slowly like the morning rays. Unlike the city, noon at Innisfree has a purple glow, evenings are filled with fluttering linnets, and midnight has a faint glimmer. The speaker's childhood memories of Innisfree build a desperate desire in him. The memories feel so intense that he could still hear the sound of the lake water while standing on the concrete grey pavements. The speaker says that he could hear the 'low sounds' in his deep most heart.

Thus, the speaker is determined to 'arise and go' to Innisfree and live and experience a life of tranquillity.