In Book III of “The Wanderings of Oisin,” W.B. Yeats completes the arc of Oisin’s story. Having traveled countless Faery realms, Oisin once again attempts to return to Ir⋯ Read the full article

In Book II of “The Wanderings of Oisin,” W.B. Yeats extends the epic tale of the legendary hero Oisin and his faery companion, Niamh. Departing the shores of the first en⋯ Read the full article

First published in 1889, “The Wanderings of Oisin” was one of W.B. Yeats’s earliest long poems, composed in three books. Book I introduces the central figures: the legend⋯ Read the full article

“Adam’s Curse” is an early 20th-century poem by W.B. Yeats that delves into the core idea that all things of worth—whether art, beauty, or love—necessitate considerable e⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “The Stolen Child” interlaces Irish folklore and lyrical enchantment, depicting faeries luring a child away from a world fraught with sorrow. The poem opens ⋯ Read the full article

In “The Song of the Happy Shepherd,” Yeats weaves a meditation on the fading of old ideals (represented by the mythical Arcady) and the elusive nature of Truth. Composed ⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “An Irish Airman Foresees His Death” offers a vivid glimpse into the inner thoughts of an Irish pilot serving during World War I. Notably, this pilot does no⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “The Wild Swans at Coole” is set against the backdrop of Coole Park in autumn. At its heart, the poem juxtaposes the timeless grace of swans with the speaker⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “Among School Children” presents the poet, himself a “sixty-year-old smiling public man,” observing a classroom of children. This setting prompts reflections⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “When You Are Old” is a gentle yet poignant address to a beloved, offering a glimpse into the future when the person has aged. The poem invites the reader to⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s poem “Sailing to Byzantium” reveals the speaker’s quest to transcend the physical confines of aging and the sensual distractions of youth. He contrasts a lan⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “Easter 1916” is a reflection on the Easter Rising of 1916 in Dublin, where Irish nationalists launched a rebellion against British rule. The poem grapples w⋯ Read the full article

W.B. Yeats’s “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” reflects a yearning for escape from urban life into the calming embrace of nature. The speaker imagines building a humble cabin,⋯ Read the full article

Thomas Hardy’s poem “In Time of The Breaking of Nations” was composed during World War I, but it carries a timeless message about the endurance of ordinary life even agai⋯ Read the full article

Thomas Hardy’s “The Convergence of the Twain” powerfully contrasts the grandiose design of the RMS Titanic with the eerie inevitability of its encounter with an iceberg. ⋯ Read the full article