WB Yeats

W.B. Yeats lived from 1865 to 1939. He was one of the greatest English language poets of the 20th century, and is one of my favorites. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. A troubled soul, he explored the ideas of reincarnation, communication with the dead, mediums, supernatural systems and Oriental mysticism--nothing I would promote. But his poetry is deeply emotional and thoughtful just the same. His first poems were published in 1885. Like Douglas Hyde (and sometimes with him) he translated old Celtic legends and stories. He helped found the Irish Literary Theater with Lady Gregory.

Below is one of my favorite Yeats poems. (I blogged about this poem back in April, but it's good enough to repeat it.)

TO A CHILD DANCING IN THE WIND

by: W. B. Yeats

ANCE there upon the shore;

What need have you to care

For wind or water's roar?

And tumble out your hair

That the salt drops have wet;

Being young you have not known

The fool's triumph, nor yet

Love lost as soon as won,

Nor the best labourer dead

And all the sheaves to bind.

What need have you to dread

The monstrous crying of wind?