An Irish Airman Foresees his Death by W.B. Yeats

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.

Theme(s)

• Death

• War

Poetic Techniques

• Monologue
• Anaphora
• Balances ideas by using contrasting phrases
  • “love/hate, years to come/years behind, life/death.”

Rhyme + Structure

• 16 Lines
• One stanza
• Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH

Tone + Mood

• Fatalistic
• Acceptance
• His enjoyment of flying

Imagery

• Lonely solider in an airplane flying amongst the clouds

Quotes

• “Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, / Nor public men, nor cheering crowds, / A lonely impulse of delight”
• “Those that I fight I do not hate, / Those that I guard I do not love;”