Paul Christensen's Blog - Posts Tagged "w-b-yeats"

The Wanderings Of Oisin And Other Poems by W.B. Yeats

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Oisin journeys to three islands representing feeling, combat and repose, ‘the three incompatible things man is always seeking.’

(This is also mirrored in Yeats’ three ‘Rose’ poems, ‘The Rose of the World’, ‘The Rose of Battle’ and ‘The Rose of Peace’, and on a more mundane level in the labour movement - eight hours work, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest.)

I don’t like the way the rhythm changes dramatically in the third section, like the time change in an ‘80s glam rock song; it makes the poem feel unbalanced. Other than that, an incredible work for a 22 year old scribe.



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W.B. Yeats: A Vision, The Original 1925 Version by W.B. Yeats

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


‘A Vision’ is undoubtedly highly interesting, and sheds light on some of Yeats’ more obscure poems, but I was ultimately disappointed, being interested in the precession of the equinoxes and the Platonic Year. I guess I was hoping for a prophecy, but while Yeats has much to say about the Arian and Piscean eras, on the Aquarian he is totally silent.



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