★★★★★ Selected Poems (Penguin Modern Classics) by WB Yeats
A quintessentially Irish poet
Selected Poems (Penguin Modern Classics)
William Yeats
A quintessentially Irish poet
I knew before I read Selected Poems (Penguin Modern Classics) by WB Yeats that he was one of the most famous poets of Ireland, a nation that takes pride in its poets. I did not know the extent to which his Irish identity was at the heart of his poetry. Of course, since this is but a selection of Yeats's poetry, it is possible that I am deceived by editor Timothy Webb's choice of poems. but I do not think so.
The two poems of Yeats's that I knew best before I read this collection were The Song of Wandering Aengus (one of my all-time-favorite poems) and The Second Coming. Neither of these poems is obviously Irish. (Unless, that is, you happen to know that Aengus is the Irish God of Love -- I did not, when I first heard this poem, and, trust me, it is by no means necessary to know that to appreciate its power and beauty.)
From The Wanderings of Oisin, an epic retelling of one of Ireland's central pre-Christian legends, to poems about Irish men who fought with Britain in the First World War to poems inspired by the disastrous Easter rebellion of 1916, Irish nationalism is prominent. Yeats was not initially in favor of Ireland's separation from England, but events changed him.
Many of these poems reflect Yeats's mysticism, but he also writes about life and love. Most of his love poems were inspired by his failed passion for Maud Gonne, a famed Irish beauty and revolutionary. Yeats's love poetry is bold and strong, with none of the preciousness and infantilization of many male poets of his era.
As usual for a Penguin Classics edition, this one has extensive notes -- literally a quarter of the book, and I read them all. Webb also wrote a 40-page introduction. After reading this book, I know who and what Yeats was much better than before.
Selected Poems (Penguin Modern Classics) by William Yeats on Amazon