W.B. Yeats - Poems

Introduction:

War poems capture the intense experiences, emotions, and realities of war, often portraying its brutality, heroism, and futility. These poems explore themes such as loss, patriotism, suffering, and the impact of war on individuals and society. From glorification in early works to stark realism in modern ones, war poetry provides a powerful insight into the human condition amidst conflict.

Comparison: Yeats and Owen/Sassoon on War

Yeats' Approach: 

In "On Being Asked for a War Poem", Yeats refuses to engage directly with war, arguing that poetry should not glorify violence or serve as propaganda. He takes a detached, introspective stance, focusing on the poet's role as a thinker, not a commentator on political or military matters.

Owen’s Approach:

Wilfred Owen, in poems like "Dulce et Decorum Est", graphically depicts the horrors of war. He challenges romanticized views of patriotism by exposing the physical suffering and futility of soldiers’ deaths. His tone is empathetic and haunting, aiming to evoke emotional responses from readers.

Sassoon’s Approach:

Siegfried Sassoon, in poems such as "The General", critiques war’s leadership and societal hypocrisy. His work uses irony and conversational language to provoke outrage at the disconnect between the trenches and the home front.

Contrast:

Yeats avoids the specifics of war, emphasizing its irrelevance to poetry.

Owen and Sassoon, by contrast, confront war directly, focusing on its brutality and moral failures.

The Turning Spiral is a modernist-inspired poem that reflects contemporary global crises, drawing on Yeats’s themes of fragmentation and cyclical decline

The Turning Spiral :

A world in fragments, pixels of despair,

The falcon’s cry lost in electric hums,

Circuits buzzing, skies thick with fire,

The center falters—what comes, what comes?

The seas rise high, their salt a bitter prayer,

Drowned cities echo in forgotten songs.

Forests whisper of what once was there,

Choked by fumes and men’s insistent wrongs.

An algorithm hums, calculating fate,

No hand to guide, no voice to warn.

The widening gyre spins threads of hate,

In silence born, from silence torn.

Beasts slouch not to Bethlehem but screens,

Their shadows cast on the walls of glass.

In fractured tongues, their prophecy screams:

The past is future; the die is cast.

And yet, beneath the broken shell of night,

A sprout of green dares to pierce the grey.

A voice remembers love, remembers light,

And dreams of spirals tur

ning the other way.

Explanation of poem:

Modernist Inspiration:

The poem draws on modernist themes such as fragmentation, chaos, and existential crises.

Reference to Yeats’s Themes:

Incorporates Yeats’s themes of fragmentation, cyclical decline, and the loss of control.

Global Crises Depicted:

Reflects contemporary issues such as environmental collapse, technological overload, and societal fragmentation.

Use of Yeats’s "Widening Gyre":

The poem references Yeats’s image of the "widening gyre" to symbolize the breakdown of order and control.

Hope Amidst Chaos:

Despite the turmoil, the poem offers hope through the metaphor of a "sprout of green," symbolizing renewal.

Blending Disillusionment and Transformation:

The poem combines a sense of despair with the possibility of transformation, mirroring the dual nature of Yeats’s work.

Yeats’s assertion in "On Being Asked for a War Poem" that poetry should remain apolitical can be both compelling and problematic, depending on one’s perspective on the role of art in society.

Agreeing with Yeats:

Art for Art’s Sake:Poetry should be about beauty and creativity, not tied to political agendas.

Universal Themes:Apolitical poetry can address timeless themes like love and nature, transcending political contexts.

Poet’s Independence: Poetry shouldn’t be reduced to propaganda, maintaining the poet’s artistic freedom.

Disagreeing with Yeats:

Poetry as Social Change: Poetry can be a powerful tool for activism and addressing societal issues.

Reflection of Reality: Poetry naturally reflects the political and social realities of its time.

Ethical Responsibility: Poets may have a duty to raise awareness about injustice and conflict.

In "The Second Coming," Yeats uses vivid imagery to convey a sense of disintegration, both in the physical world and in the fabric of society. The imagery serves to reflect the chaos, fear, and impending collapse of civilization.

Imagery of Disintegration:

The Widening Gyre:

Yeats begins with the image of a "widening gyre" (spiral), which symbolizes the unraveling of order and structure. As the gyre expands, things move further away from the center, implying a loss of control and direction. This image reflects a world in disarray, moving away from any stable, central force.

The Falcon and the Falconer:

"The falcon cannot hear the falconer," a powerful metaphor for the breakdown of communication and authority. This suggests a world where guidance and control are lost, and nature or civilization itself is spiraling out of control, unable to return to its proper place.

Blood-Dimmed Tide:

The "blood-dimmed tide" evokes violence and destruction. The red, chaotic sea suggests a world consumed by conflict and bloodshed, a scene of chaos and disintegration where morality and order are submerged under a rising tide of violence.

The Rough Beast:

The imagery of the "rough beast" slouching toward Bethlehem represents the arrival of a destructive, primal force. The "beast" symbolizes an uncontrollable power, likely a new era of turmoil or barbarism, threatening to replace the old, established order. The fact that this beast is "slouching" towards Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, suggests the inversion of spiritual and moral values.

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, Yeats’s view in "On Being Asked for a War Poem" advocates for apolitical poetry focused on beauty rather than political agendas, contrasting with poets like Owen and Sassoon, who confront the brutal realities of war. Yeats’s imagery in "The Second Coming" and themes of disintegration reflect modernist chaos. The poem "The Turning Spiral" mirrors these ideas, blending despair with hope. Yeats’s stance on art invites debate on whether poetry should explore timeless themes or address societal issues.