michael lambe

Today, the poet that’s foremost on my mind is that crack-pot Irish esoteric romantic W.B. Yeats. A great man. Many of his most famous poems were inspired by his deep infatuation for a lady named Maud Gonne, a woman of passion, with a deep sense of justice and fully dedicated to the cause of Irish nationalism. Here is one such poem; almost unbearably tender, I dare you to read it and not feel something:

He Wishes For The Cloths Of HeavenHAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Sadly, the girl Maud remained unmoved (in later life she professed a firm disinterest in the poems she had inspired). Yeats proposed to her in 1891 and was rejected. Again he proposed in 1899 - no go. Once more in 1900 - same result. And finally, persistent fellow that he was, AGAIN in 1901. The answer: No thank you.

In 1903 while at a party with some other literary types, Yeats was informed that the great love of his life, his muse and inspiration for the last 14 years had married the Irish nationalist John MacBride.

Think about him there if you will. Standing there, in that instant, shocked to the quick, with his little sherry glass in hand. He was 38 years old and heading into middle-age and the one great love of his life was over.

He later went on to write much better and mature poetry of course. His life and his achievements, didn’t end there. But it has always struck me as unbearably sad that this great romantic poet, couldn’t pull it off. The one woman he wanted to be with, simply wasn’t interested in his poems, no matter how great they were. I’ve always thought it an awful pity. The Japanese have just the word for it: せつない (setsunai or “heartrending”).

In the end of course he ended up married to a girl half his age named George. Isn’t it funny how things work out.?

Of course this is all my own round-about-and-deeply-veiled-way of expressing my own current feeling. Those of you who know me best and know where my heart has been leading me lately, will know what I’m talking about. I too have been disappointed today. Am I sad? You bet. Can I see beyond it? Yes, but it’s a little murky right now. Am I now going to get on with the rest of my life? Yes. Yes. Yes.

Incidentally, there is a theory that Maud Gonne, was not completely without feeling for poor old William Butler…. that she led him on a bit. There is even some evidence they had a brief affair. A brief glimpse of happiness. Which brings me to today’s video. Yeat’s wrote a wonderful poem, based on Irish myth but infused with his own sad passion entitled: The Song of Wandering Angus. In it, he describes the protagonist’s fleeting encounter of a dream-like love that he then determines to pursue almost against all reason until… well see and listen for yourself. Remember, these poems are meant to be listened to… Enjoy, and God bless you all.