Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose. - Gertrude Stein

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. ...also perhaps a little fanciful that death would be in the clouds - too dream like perhaps? 3. I think those are truly the hardest fights. 4. No sense of duty at all. 5. Irish patriotism at its best. 6. One of Connellys ilk, no doubt. 7. But England's difficulty was Ireland's opportunity, remember? 8. Bit harsh to suggest that the Irish are that selfish. All war deaths are tragic. 9. Ridiculous that laws ever made anyone fight. Conscription...what a a joke. 10. Charlie is a tough motherucker 11. What gets your gears going I suppose. 12. The duels between air aces in the first world war were famed, and the pilots often regarded as heroes. 13. Ha mate, I don't think balanced is a word you can be using non-ironically. 14. Great line. 15. Truly, the highpoint of his life. 16. I'll never understand those who chase death.