Poetry Bookclub: Yeats's The Wild Swans at Coole

[JBI]

Hmm, since no body is posting anymore... does someone want to take another poem from the bunch?

[quasimodo1]

To JBI and all, sorry to be so absent of late; I do have a comment on the second poem. This evening. q1

[sofia82]

Not yet, please wait.

[Quark]

I'm ready for the next poem. Sorry I couldn't post over the weekend. I was away and wasn't able to get to a computer.

[sofia82]

I changed my mind, as quasimodo1 post the comment i prefer to start the third poem.

[quasimodo1]

"I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death." For some days now, pondering these first three poems, no comment seemed really relevant. Probably just because these poems are just so accessable and uncomplicated. Let me take exception to Quark's comment as quoted above and insist Yeats still had the ability to create more complex forms but I don't think he wanted that in this writing. The forseen death seems to have taken on almost a serene quality, i.e. complete and non-stressed acceptance. These poems are much more enjoyable than I remembered from the first reading (back in the day).

[sofia82]

When will we go to the next poem?

[quasimodo1]

Anytime you want, Sofia.

[sofia82]

Anytime you want, Sofia.

But what about the rest! JBI should post the new poem or ...?

[quasimodo1]

Sorry, JBI will decide about moving on.

[quasimodo1]

W.B. Yeats (1865–1939). The Wild Swans at Coole. 1919.

4. Men improve with the Years



I AM worn out with dreams;
A weather-worn, marble triton
Among the streams;
And all day long I look
Upon this lady’s beauty
As though I had found in book
A pictured beauty,
Pleased to have filled the eyes
Or the discerning ears,
Delighted to be but wise,
For men improve with the years;
And yet and yet
Is this my dream, or the truth?
O would that we had met
When I had my burning youth;
But I grow old among dreams,
A weather-worn, marble triton
Among the streams.

[Dark Muse]

I am starting to notice a theme here.

I love the language and imagery of this poem.

I AM worn out with dreams;
A weather-worn, marble triton

I loved these first lines, they really set the tone of the poem.

Upon this lady’s beauty
As though I had found in book
A pictured beauty,

I loved these words

Or the discerning ears,

Considering the above imagry used, I found this reference to be a bit currious

But I grow old among dreams,
A weather-worn, marble triton

I really like the way the last lines were slightly altered for the ending, but I was currious about the refernce to the "streams" and the meaning of that image.

[sofia82]

W.B. Yeats (1865–1939). The Wild Swans at Coole. 1919.

4. Men improve with the Years

You forgot the third one, An Irish Airman foresees his Death ?

[sofia82]

A beautiful one! At least not wandering in the world of the dead but in the world of dreams. It is interesting that being worn out with dreams, he dreams about the beauties which is represented by the beauty of the lady, and in the middle of dreaming makes himself return to the world of reality not knowing if he was dreaming or not indeed. I love this one. And a few questions,

I AM worn out with dreams;
A weather-worn, marble triton
Among the streams;

I wonder if this marble triton refers to the mythological Greek god, the son of Poseidon, or just a kind of sea shell? If it refers to the son of Poseidon, is there any significant relationship between this triton and the lady?

Does this lady represent his poetical genius in his old age, and when he says

O would that we had met
When I had my burning youth;

does he want to state that this poetic genius is now in its height or not? Or just it is a dream?

The Rhyme scheme is aba cdcd efef ghgh aba, What does this repetition of the first three lines signify, returning and remaining to/with the same dreams? And this scheme represents different phases in his thoughts?

[Dark Muse]

I wonder if this marble triton refers to the mythological Greek god, the son of Poseidon, or just a kind of sea shell? If it refers to the son of Poseidon, is there any significant relationship between this triton and the lady?

I beleive it was meant to be the Tritins of the Greeks, I saw it as they are the ones older than the gods whom have now fallen back into obsoleation. They lost thier place to make room for the "new" ones, being the Gods.

Does this lady represent his poetical genius in his old age, and when he says

That is an interesting thought, the way he talks about her being upon a page. Perhaps she is his muse

does he want to state that this poetic genius is now in its height or not? Or just it is a dream?

I would say, that he is trying to suggest that the youth was his hieght.