William Butler Yeats - The Wild Swans of Coole

I love to see and hear the Canadian Geese and other birds migrating as fall is upon us.  We read a fabulous book about Lonesome Lake in British Columbia that describes living with trumpeter swans.  One can imagine the magnificence of all those birds taking flight.



The Wild Swans of Coole
William Butler Yeats

The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings

William Butler Yeats

W. B. Yeats was born in 1865 and died in 1939.  Yeats was an Irish poet and considered one of the most prominent 20th century poets.  He was the first Irishman to earn the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. He married late in life wanting to produce an heir, and so married Georgie Hyde-Lees who was 25 years-old. They had two children.  He continued to be a prolific writer and active member of society all his life.

Here are some unique W.B. Yeats items that you might enjoy looking into.  The first is a musical celebration.  The second is intended for young readers, which I appreciate having been a teacher for many years.

Poetry for Young People - William Butler Yeats

Now, And In Time to Be

This is a great book of Yeats' collected poems.

The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats

Following is a recording of W.B. Yeats reading some of his works.

Open Culture has a great post about this recording with the words written out, so you can more easily follow what he is saying.  You can see it on their site by clicking here.