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William Butler Yeats

Tuesday 31st of March 2026

Death I pray — for word is out And prayer comes round again — That I may seem, though I die old, A foolish, passionate man. William Butler Yeats, “A Prayer For Old Age”  © 2015 Kwiple.com
Immortality The death of the poet was kept from his poems. W. H. Auden, “In Memory of W. B. Yeats” (. Jan. 1939)  © 2017 Kwiple.com
State of the union The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. William Butler Yeats, “The Second Coming”  © 2018 Kwiple.com
State of the union Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; William Butler Yeats, “The Second Coming”  © 2015 Kwiple.com
 
War I know that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate, Those that I guard I do not love; My county is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan's poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death. William Butler Yeats, “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” © 2016 Kwiple.com