Easter, 1916 and Other Poems (Dover Thrift Editions)

Rating:
Summary: A poet/prophet with a broad and compassionate vision
Review: "'Easter 1916' and Other Poems" is a rich and challenging collection by William Butler Yeats. I read this book as a Dover Thrift Edition. The book includes a 4-page introductory note that discusses the life and career of Yeats (1865-1939), who received the Nobel Prize in Literature. A bibliographic note on the copyright page states that the Dover edition contains Yeats' poems from the volumes "The Wild Swans at Coole" and "Michael Robartes and the Dancer."

Although I found many of these poems obscure and hard to penetrate, I also found many of them haunting and beautiful. And many of the difficult poems opened up to me after additional readings. A mystical thread, as well as an attentiveness to nature, runs throughout this collection.

This book is rich in literary, religious, and mythological allusions. Yeats writes of war, death, grief, aging, love, and beauty. Many of the poems are quite musical--Yeats uses interesting variations in line length, rhyme scheme, poem length, and other effects.

Interestingly, I found the most effective poems in this collection to be those that deal with the relationships and encounters between humans and animals: the majestic "The Wild Swans at Coole," the tender "To a Squirrel at Kyle-Na-Gno," the haunting "On a Political Prisoner," the playful and mystical "The Cat and the Moon," and others.

Of course, there are many additional memorable poems in this collection, such as the deliciously satiric "The Scholars," or "The Second Coming," which has a real prophetic flavor. Overall, a remarkable volume by a significant figure in 20th century literature.

Rating:
Summary: A wee bit of great poetry
Review: "Easter 1916" is one of the finest poems regarding the Dublin insurrection both in its historical account and its encapsulation of raw emotion. Another of my favorites is "The Rose Tree" which relays a conversation between Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, two of the martyred leaders of the Easter Rising. The other poems included are a good cross-section of works from The Wild Swans at Coole (1919) and Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921)--collections that show the kind of talent Yeats possessed. And there's no arguing with the price; I have found Dover Thrift Editions to be lifesavers in those times when you desperately need to find a poem or short story but don't have $10 or $20 to spend on it. All things considered, this is a fantastic buy.