Summary of 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'

The poem begins with the poet declaring his deep desire to leave his current life in the noisy, crowded city (London) and travel to a small, peaceful island called Innisfree.

What will he do there? The poet plans to live a very simple and self-sufficient life on the island. He wants to build a small cabin made of clay and wooden sticks. To feed himself, he will plant nine rows of beans and keep a hive for honeybees. He wishes to live entirely alone in the forest, surrounded only by the loud, buzzing sound of the bees.

Finding Peace The poet believes that in Innisfree, peace will come to him slowly. He beautifully describes the island's nature: the misty mornings, the purple glow of noon, the evenings full of Linnet birds flying in the sky, and the glimmering midnights.

The Reality In the final stanza, the reality hits. The poet is currently standing on a dull, grey pavement in the noisy city. However, even while standing in the city, he can clearly hear the soft, soothing sound of the lake water lapping against the shores of Innisfree "in the deep heart's core". The island is not just a physical place, but a peaceful state of mind he carries within his heart.