
THE SECRET ROSE - By W.B. Yeats
TO THE SECRET ROSE
THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE OUTCAST.
OUT OF THE ROSE.
THE WISDOM OF THE KING.
THE HEART OF THE SPRING.
THE CURSE OF THE FIRES AND OF THE SHADOWS.
THE OLD MEN OF THE TWILIGHT.
WHERE THERE IS NOTHING, THERE IS GOD.
OF COSTELLO THE PROUD, OF OONA THE DAUGHTER OF DERMOTT, AND OF THE BITTER TONGUE.
A lyrical tapestry of myth and memory unfolds as a wandering minstrel named Cumhal journeys through the Irish countryside, his thoughts tangled between ancient druidic legends and the harsh realities of a world in turmoil. The narrative blends poetic reverie with vivid scenes of crossroads, stone crosses, and storm‑tossed seas, inviting listeners to feel the pull of a landscape where the spiritual and the natural clash in quiet, haunting moments.
Through richly drawn characters and a voice that echoes both the bardic tradition and modern introspection, the story explores the yearning for a hidden, inviolate rose—a symbol of love, loss, and the elusive promise of redemption. As Cumhal confronts the remnants of old faiths and the lingering echoes of forgotten heroes, the listener is drawn into a contemplative quest that feels both timeless and intimately personal.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (115K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Text file produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team HTML file produced by David Widger
Release date
2004-05-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1865–1939
A central figure in modern poetry, this Irish writer helped shape the Irish Literary Revival while creating work that still feels musical, mysterious, and deeply human. His poems range from dreamlike early lyrics to sharper, more powerful later pieces that won readers around the world.
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