Auden: In Memory of W. B. Yeats

[grllopez]

This is a pleasant poem in memory of the poet W. B. Yeats.

It was frigid winter the day Yeats passed away. Outdoors, nature still did it's thing, but the news spread about Yeats decline. He was surrounded by nurses, and he was losing consciousness. His glorious working mind shut down.

However, his legacy lives on through his readers, throughout the world and generations. Unfortunately, younger generations will interpret his words through their own lens, as they usually do.

Tomorrow, as life goes on, only a few of Yeats fans will remember his death.

Again, this event was the eve of WWII, and misery was magnified. Poetry cannot really effect any change in the world -- there is still darkness everywhere; but poets can create hope, like springtime.

Therefore, Auden makes a last request of Yeats to work his magic with his words, to bring goodness into the world. Lastly, he calls on Yeats' words to heal people.