The Peacock

W. B. YeatsInspired

What's riches to him That has made a great peacock With the pride of his eye? The wind-beaten, stone-grey, And desolate Three-rock Would nourish his whim. Live he or die Amid wet rocks and heather, His ghost will be gay Adding feather to feather For the pride of his eye.

W. B. Yeats

Mood:: Inspired
Topics:: pride, rock, peacock, heather

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Summary

The speaker asks what ordinary riches could mean to someone who has made a great peacock simply from the pride of his eye. The phrase points to creative intensity and self-delight, not vanity. A bare, wind-beaten, stone-grey hillside—Three Rock—would be enough to feed this whim.

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