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Read more poems by William Butler Yeats: William Butler Yeats Poems at Poetry X.

This great purple butterfly,
In the prison of my hands,
Has a learning in his eye
Not a poor fool understands.

Once he lived a schoolmaster
With a stark, denying look;
A string of scholars went in fear
Of his great birch and his great book.

Like the clangour of a bell,
Sweet and harsh, harsh and sweet.
That is how he learnt so well
To take the roses for his meat.

Added: 8 Sep 2001 | Last Read: 12 Sep 2026 3:52 AM | Viewed: 5496 times

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