The Lake Isle of Innisfree Stanza 1

Line 1

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree

• The speaker states that he's off to Innisfree. Uh, whootywhat?
• Innisfree is a small island in a lake called Lough Gill, in Sligo County, Ireland. 
• Yeats grew up visiting Sligo every year, and taking small trips to Lough Gill. 
• You know what jumps out at Shmoop here? This speaker sounds pretty resolved. I will arise! And go now! And go to Innisfree! 
• Geez, buddy, we get it. So get movin' already.

Line 2

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

• First, we have to tell you that wattles are rods and stakes mixed with sticks and branches to make walls or fences. They sound hilarious, but they're actually pretty standard fencing fare.
• So he's going to build a small cabin and it's going to be pretty simple and rustic, right? 
• Right away we can tell this isn't your typical dream-vacation fantasy palace. He's not building some villa with an infinity pool.
• And once again, we've got some serious determination on our hands. This guy is making plans. Let's see if he keeps 'em.

Lines 3-4

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

• He says he's going to have a small bean garden and a beehive for honeybees. This guy sounds like he's in serious need of retirement.
• "Glade" is an open space in a forest, so you can probably picture the bee glade as a clearing in the woods surrounding his tiny cabin with swarms of honeybees. 
• In line 4 the speaker states that he wants to live alone, surrounded only by the sound of bees and the presence of nature. Why no friends and family to share it, buddy?
• Anything else you Shmoopers notice? Oh! Oh! Pick me!
• Yep, these lines create a rhyme scheme for the first stanza, when you combine them with the first two lines: ABAB. Innisfree rhymes with honeybee, and made rhymes with glade. Nifty, right? For more, check out our section on "Form and Meter."