An Irish Airman Forsees His Death - A poem by William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats - An Irish Airman Forsees 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 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.

Added: on March 24th, 2006 at 7:17 PM | Viewed: 7066 times | Comments (11)

An Irish Airman Forsees His Death - Comments and Information
Poet: William Butler Yeats Poem: An Irish Airman Forsees His Death Volume: The Wild Swans at Coole Year: Published/Written in 1919 Comment 11 of 11, added on June 20th, 2006 at 4:01 PM. Did you know that the UK Band Keane has based one of their songs on this poem?It is very moving! Diana Partridge from United Kingdom Comment 10 of 11, added on April 18th, 2006 at 11:22 PM. Yeats himself was not an airman. As a child he spent a lot of time in Coole Park with Lady Gregory. Her only son, Major Robert Gregory, was himself, an airman, who passed away in battle. This poem, "An Irish Airman Forsees His Death," was written in memory of Robert. Jenni from United States Comment 9 of 11, added on March 24th, 2006 at 7:17 PM. Do you know a pilot?A pilot of the war, it matters not which...dont you see? It is there that they live..live or die, balance it all..The days ahead will be waiting to live again or die... 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. Once having flown and loved flight...it is a consolation indeed an epitaph that he was only alive in that balanced place....in flight...even if he knew it was death, before him....this is where his live both began and should end. That was hs love his delight, that was his life and his death. There in flight. John Moon from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, An Irish Airman Forsees His Death, has received 11 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by William Butler Yeats with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
An Irish Airman Forsees His Death Volume: The Wild Swans at Coole Year: Published/Written in 1919 Last read: 2009-11-19 18:57:37 Viewed 7066 times. Added on March 24th, 2006 at 7:17 PM.

Yeats Info
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