Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold. - W. B. Yeats

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

by W.B Yeats

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

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Click on a line to see some annotations. 1. I believe this suggests that death was coming to him one way or another. 2. Could be the sky, could be Heaven. 3. I think those are truly the hardest fights. 4. Hey, we all have our reasons to fight. He's no different. 5. A lovely part of Ireland, located on the west coast of Galway. 6. People we can all agree to fight for. 7. Guy must have been suicidal to go in with an attitude like that. 8. Another great line. 9. Imagine being one of those people, torn away from your loved ones to fight, forced by the law. And then here's this guy. Life's chances can be so cruel. 10. Cheering crowds: Not interested Cheering broads: Different story ;) 11. Fuck this site!!! 12. Clouds making a reappearance from here from line 2. 13. Ha mate, I don't think balanced is a word you can be using non-ironically. 14. A disturbing thought. A growing one with young people nowadays, something I worry about. 15. Truly, the highpoint of his life. 16. I'll see you in Valhalla, fictional poem pilot!