William Butler Yeats, one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, was a central figure in the Irish Literary Revival and a master of symbolic and modernist poetry. His works explore themes of Irish identity, love, mysticism, and the passage of time, often drawing on rich imagery and mythological references. In this post, we have carefully selected ten of the best W.B. Yeats poems that showcase his poetic genius and enduring influence.
1. "The Second Coming"
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
"The Second Coming" is one of Yeats's most famous poems, capturing the chaos and disintegration of the modern world. Written in the aftermath of World War I, it foresees a grim future with apocalyptic imagery and a chilling vision of the coming of a new, ominous age.
2. "Sailing to Byzantium"
That is no country for old men. The young
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
— Those dying generations — at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
In "Sailing to Byzantium," Yeats reflects on aging and the quest for eternal life. The poem contrasts the transience of the physical world with the timelessness of art, as the speaker seeks spiritual renewal in the symbolic city of Byzantium.
3. "Easter, 1916"
I have met them at close of day
Coming with vivid faces
From counter or desk among grey
Eighteenth-century houses.
"Easter, 1916" is Yeats's response to the Easter Rising, a pivotal event in Irish history. The poem commemorates the rebels who sacrificed their lives for Irish independence, transforming Yeats’s ambivalent view of them into a reverent and poignant elegy.
4. "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
"The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a lyrical poem that expresses Yeats’s yearning for a peaceful, idyllic life away from the hustle and bustle of modern civilization. The poem is imbued with a deep sense of nostalgia and a longing for natural simplicity.
5. "When You Are Old"
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
"When You Are Old" is a deeply romantic and reflective poem in which Yeats addresses a past lover, possibly Maud Gonne, urging her to remember the love they shared. The poem is a poignant meditation on love, time, and memory.
6. "The Stolen Child"
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
"The Stolen Child" is a haunting poem that draws on Irish folklore, telling the tale of a child lured away by faeries. The poem reflects Yeats’s fascination with the mystical and otherworldly, as well as his ambivalence about the loss of innocence.
7. "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;
In "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death," Yeats imagines the thoughts of an Irish pilot during World War I. The poem is a powerful exploration of fate, duty, and the futility of war, set against the backdrop of the Irish struggle for independence.
8. "The Wild Swans at Coole"
The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
"The Wild Swans at Coole" is a contemplative poem that reflects on the passage of time and the changes it brings. Set in Coole Park, a place dear to Yeats, the poem contrasts the unchanging beauty of the swans with the poet’s own sense of loss and aging.
9. "Leda and the Swan"
A sudden blow: the great wings beating still
Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed
By the dark webs, her nape caught in his bill,
He holds her helpless breast upon his breast.
"Leda and the Swan" is a powerful retelling of the Greek myth in which Zeus, in the form of a swan, rapes Leda. The poem is a striking exploration of power, violence, and its profound consequences on human history.
10. "Among School Children"
I walk through the long schoolroom questioning;
A kind old nun in a white hood replies;
The children learn to cipher and to sing,
To study reading-books and histories,
"Among School Children" is a complex meditation on aging, memory, and the nature of existence. As Yeats reflects on his own life and the passage of time, the poem weaves together personal history, philosophical musings, and the innocence of youth.
W.B. Yeats’s poetry spans a remarkable range of themes and styles, from the personal and political to the mystical and philosophical. These ten poems are among his most celebrated works, each one offering a glimpse into the mind of a poet who has left an indelible mark on literature.
