I was in Ireland this summer for a family reunion, and on the way back to the Dublin Airport we stopped to see William Butler Yeats' grave. I was expecting something elaborate, considering how well known he is. The grave was simple, and there was a small evergreen plant right in front of the headstone. There was a small statue in front of the graveyard, but it doesn't count because Yeats' skeleton is not lying underneath it. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture because my camera ran out of battery due to the difference of plugs in Ireland. I don't remember ever reading any of William Butler Yeats' poems before "The Second Coming", but when I did in class this week the poem seemed to have more importance because I have seen his resting place. There were crows all over the shady graveyard and the ground was soggy with mud so I had to jump around to avoid stepping on a grave or mud puddles. The dark, foreboding tone of "The Second Coming" was an inside look into how Yeats' thought about all the turmoil of his time. There will be turmoil in my life in this last year of high school due to all the stress and studying, but it will be worth all the hardwork. I want to be in Ireland again.
This is really cool, Alison. We spent two weeks in Ireland summer of 08, my favorite part being the days we spent on Raithlin Island in the North. Amazing! I hadn't been to Ireland since 1986. ON our visit in 08 there was a brilliant exhibit in Dublin at the National Library for Yeats. Beautiful readings of his greatest.
ReplyDeletewe do a production featuring Yeats poetry called "Poets in Paradise" here in our local theatre and written by our local playwright I sing Down by the Sally Gardens and lots more would you like me to send you the dvd Aunty Philomena
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