Poetry

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was a Nobel Prize winning Irish poet. His work was influenced by the rising tide of Irish nationalism, and in turn influenced the identity of an emerging Irish nation. The following poem was written for Major Robert Gregory (1881-1918) of the British Royal Flying Corps, killed in action on the Italian front:

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

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 country 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

Note: This post is for JS. Enjoy!