An Irish Airman Foresees His Death: Poem by W.B. Yeats
This is a great poem that I discovered after finding the meaning of the song "A Bad Dream" by Keane. According to this site, (http://www.thebeckoning.com/poetry/yeats/yeats.html) Yeats wrote the poem in honor of Major Gregory, who fought and died in the air war against Germany in World War One.
Below is the poem and one of my favorite videos of Keane singing their interpretation.
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
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.
Poem by William Butler Yeats
