Tag Archives: W. B. Yeats

Yeats Had Fascism’s Number

Poets in the 1920s and 1930s understood their fascists, including Yeats in this poem.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Leave a comment

One Man Loved the Pilgrim Soul in You

In which I explain how Yeats’s “When You Are Old and Gray” frames the dedication that opens my book.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

On Lear and Turning 73

Poet David Wright finds retirement lessons in “King Lear.” And aging lessons as well.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

Mary and the Threefold Terror of Love

Yeats’ “Mother of God” is a good poem for the third Sunday in Advent.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

Poets Talking Poetry over a Beer

In this R.S. Thomas poem, two poets engage in the never-ending discussion of whether poetry is more craft or inspiration.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed

Poetry and Our June 8, 1973 Wedding

I share the wedding ceremony that Julia and I went through 50 years ago.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

The Theatricality of Martyrdom

While visiting a Dublin exhibit of the Easter, 1916 Rising, I thought both of a Borges short story and Yeats’s famous poem about the event.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

Leaving Ireland to Fight

One option for Irishmen leaving the country has been fighting for other countries. Yeats captures this in “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

What Made Roger Federer Special

Recently retired Roger Federer had a quality possessed by the 17th century Cavalier poets.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed