Poem “He wishes for the cloths of heaven”

Analysis

STANZA 1:

Had I the heaven's embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
The poem starts with a claim that a man, the poet, makes that he wish he had the
heaven’s embroidered cloths. The concept of heaven’s embroidered cloths refers either
to pieces of textile which are extremely pretty and of the highest quality or to a lucrative
position, which gives either power or money or both, that has been obtained from
building up in a particular career. He then describes the beauty of these highest quality
premium products that he so yearns to possess. These cloths would be decorated with
gold and silver light. The gold and silver light may be the lustre of various shiny pieces
that have been stitched to the cloths to make them look more attractive. Or maybe they
are the various privileges or perks that the poet would have due to his career such as a
big house, a nice salary etc. The poet then goes on about having more of such cloths
that come in varying colours such as the blue, dim coloured shade and dark colour. This
would give multiple impressions about the cloths that are getting talked about. Firstly, the
cloths may be some extremely attractive and high quality textile merchandise which is
used to prepare clothing. Secondly, the cloths may be different types of careers which
give a status & position of power and money. This position would be able to pay up for
the expenses and fuel a happy life. Thirdly, the cloths may refer to actual scenery of the
sky which might represent a happy life that the poet would like to share. A life which may
or may not be due to a successful career but is joyous enough for the poet and he is
content with it. The last line of the stanza indicates the various times of the day that is
the night, the day and the dawn & dusk time respectively. This line pushes the
understanding of the reader about the cloths towards the first point of view i.e. the cloths
are of high quality and resemble the shades of the sky during the different times of the
day. But when given a deeper analysis, may be the last line also means the different
levels of the position of the job post that the poet may want to be at so long the job is
lucrative and coveted. This stanza describes what the poet considers to be priceless for
him. The Rhyming does not take place but same words are repeated in the first and third
line and in the second and fourth line that is cloths and light respectively.

STANZA 2:

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
The poet then says that these cloths he will spread under someone’s feet. The generic
meaning of this line is that whatever the poet wants to have, which he really values very
much, he will very willingly present it to the person whom he is addressing. We can
assume that this person would be his love interest. He would leave such high quality
cloths at the disposal of his beloved. Or maybe he would want to marry and have a life
with his love interest after getting to that job post & profile which he considers so
prestigious. Then the poet says that he being poor only has his dreams not the cloths
that he talked about in the first stanza. This means that despite expressing his love for
her by stating this fact that he is willing to sacrifice something which he holds so dear
 only to impress her, he does not have any such thing in his possession yet He only has
his dream which means that he only has his will & desire to express the quantum of his
love to impress his love interest. He then says that he has spread his dreams under his
beloved’s feet. This means that he has expressed his great and intense desire to give up
those items that he considers being his most prized possession or may be like to build a
life with her after getting a job which he considers to be too good to be true. This action
itself should testify for the undying love that he has for his beloved as he does not have
those prized items or the prestigious job profile. In the last line he requests her to tread
softly as she is now walking on his dreams instead of the heaven’s embroidered cloths
What he wants to convey is that now that his beloved is aware of his desires and
sentiments for her, she should replicate his sentiments and love him back with just the
same levels of fervour as he loves her. This stanza talks about the reason that has
driven the poet to write this poem i.e. is to show his love for someone whom he knows.
The Rhyming does not take place but same words are repeated in the first and third line
and in the second and fourth line that is feet and dreams respectively.

QUESTIONS ANS ANSWERS:

Q: What message does the poet conveys in the poem “He wishes for the cloths of heaven”?

Ans: The message of the poem is the perennial one of love, and appears to be addressing a
lover directly. The poet says that if he were rich, he would offer all the world and its
treasures. He would take the heavens and make it into a cloth which he would spread under
his lover’s feet.
Question 1: What is the central theme of "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven"?

Answer: The central theme of "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" is the speaker's desire
to give his beloved the most precious gifts, even if he lacks the material means to do so. It
explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of poetic imagination.

Question 2: How does the speaker describe the ideal gifts he wishes to give his beloved?

Answer: The speaker wishes to give his beloved the "cloths of heaven," which he describes
as rich and rare garments made from the finest materials—gold, silver, and light. These
metaphorical "cloths" symbolize the speaker's desire to adorn his beloved with beauty and
splendour.

Question 3: What does the phrase "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams" mean in
the context of the poem?

Answer: This phrase serves as a warning to the beloved, urging them to handle the
speaker's dreams and aspirations with care. It implies that the beloved's actions and words
have the power to either nurture or crush the speaker's hopes and dreams. It emphasizes
the vulnerability of the speaker's emotions and the importance of mutual respect and
understanding in love.
Question 4: How does W.B. Yeats use imagery and language to evoke a sense of longing
and desire in the poem?

Answer: Yeats employs vivid imagery and rich language to convey the speaker's longing and
desire. He describes the "cloths of heaven" with luxurious and ethereal imagery, creating a
sense of longing and desire for something unattainable. The repetition of the phrase "But I,
being poor, have only my dreams" emphasizes the speaker's sense of inadequacy and
yearning to give his beloved the best.

Question 5: What is the significance of the title "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven"?

Answer: The title suggests that the speaker's desires transcend material possessions and
worldly wealth. Instead, he longs to give his beloved something intangible yet infinitely
precious—the "cloths of heaven." This title encapsulates the central theme of the poem,
which is the speaker's heartfelt desire to offer his beloved the most valuable gifts he
possesses: his dreams and aspirations.

Poetic Devices:
Metaphor: The entire poem is structured around a metaphorical conceit—the speaker's wish
to give his beloved the "cloths of heaven." These "cloths" symbolize intangible gifts such as
love, beauty, and dreams.
Imagery: Yeats employs vivid imagery throughout the poem to evoke a sense of beauty and
longing. For example, he describes the "cloths of heaven" as "enwrought with golden and
silver light," creating a visual image of celestial splendor.
Repetition: The refrain "But I, being poor, have only my dreams" is repeated twice in the
poem, emphasizing the speaker's sense of longing and inadequacy. This repetition serves to
reinforce the central theme of the poem.
Alliteration: Yeats uses alliteration to create musicality and rhythm in the poem. For
example, in the line "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams," the repetition of the "t"
sound adds a lyrical quality to the verse.
Personification: The phrase "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams" personifies the
speaker's dreams, giving them a sense of vulnerability and fragility.
Symbolism: The "cloths of heaven" serve as a powerful symbol throughout the poem,
representing the speaker's deepest desires and aspirations. They also symbolize the
ethereal and unattainable nature of love and beauty.
Enjambment: Yeats uses enjambment to create a sense of continuity and fluidity between
lines. This technique allows the poem to flow smoothly and adds to its lyrical quality.
Overall, these poetic devices work together to create a poignant and evocative poem that
explores themes of love, longing, and the power of imagination.
Q: What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" by W.B. Yeats can be described as tender,
wistful, and reverent.
The speaker's tone is tender as he expresses his deep affection for his beloved and his
desire to give them the most precious gifts, despite his own limitations. There's a sense of
heartfelt sincerity in his words as he speaks of his longing to adorn his beloved with the
"cloths of heaven," symbolizing his wish to offer them the most exquisite treasures of his
imagination.
Additionally, the tone is wistful, conveying a sense of longing and yearning. The speaker
acknowledges his own poverty and lack of material wealth, yet he still dreams of providing
his beloved with something magnificent and transcendent. There's a poignant sense of
longing for something unattainable, coupled with a bittersweet acceptance of his own
limitations.
Lastly, the tone is reverent, reflecting the speaker's reverence for love and beauty. The
imagery of the "cloths of heaven" and the plea to "tread softly" on the speaker's dreams
convey a sense of reverence for the intangible and sacred aspects of life. There's a profound
respect for the power of love and imagination, as well as a recognition of their fragile and
precious nature.
Overall, the tone of the poem is tender, wistful, and reverent, conveying the speaker's deep
emotions and his reverence for the beauty and power of love.