William Butler Yeats, Author at The Imaginative Conservative

About William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of twentieth-century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, he helped to found the Abbey Theatre, and in his later years served as an Irish Senator for two terms, and was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival along with Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn, and others.

“The Second Coming”

By William Butler Yeats|2020-11-09T20:00:05-06:00November 11th, 2019|Categories: Poetry|

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; […]

“The Scholars”

By William Butler Yeats|2020-06-12T11:19:41-05:00June 25th, 2017|Categories: Literature, Poetry|

Bald heads forgetful of their sins, Old, learned, respectable bald heads Edit and annotate the lines […]

“The Lake Isle of Innisfree”

By William Butler Yeats|2020-06-12T11:21:21-05:00June 13th, 2017|Categories: Culture, Imagination, Poetry|

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. […]

“Adam’s Curse”

By William Butler Yeats|2020-06-12T12:13:42-05:00March 12th, 2017|Categories: Literature, Poetry|

We sat together at one summer’s end, That beautiful mild woman, your close friend, And you and I, and talked of poetry. […]

“When You Are Old”

By William Butler Yeats|2021-01-11T20:10:02-06:00August 16th, 2015|Categories: Literature, Poetry|

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; […]

“The Four Ages of Man”

By William Butler Yeats|2021-01-11T20:04:49-06:00March 8th, 2015|Categories: Literature, Poetry|

He with body waged a fight, But body won; it walks upright. Then he struggled with the heart; Innocence and peace depart. Then he struggled with the mind; His proud heart he left behind. Now his wars on God begin; At stroke of midnight God shall win. […]