Ireland- Cast a Cold Eye on Life, on Death, Horseman, pass by!

Departing Galway City

The simple grave of my favourite poet WB Yeats

Following our visit with  Mise we travelled north to Sligo town, where we visited the grave of WB Yeats, which is under the shadow of Ben Bulben Mountain in the cemetary of St. Columba's Parish Church at Drumcliffe.   WB Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.   Millions of people are attracted to Yeat's poetry and one wonders why, perhaps his ability to convey to others the feelings he has experienced, we empathize with these feelings. "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams" we whisper in our mind when an insensitive person threatens to crash upon our space.  "I will arise and go now and go to Innisfree" we silently resolve when the madness of life is overwhelming.

Rest in Peace Mr WB Yeats

Cast a Cold Eye on Life, on Death, Horseman, pass by  - One may interpret this to mean  that he is saying 'if you are looking for answers as to what lies beyond life and death, I can't help you you must look elsewhere Horseman, pass by'.

The grave is but yards from the open door of St. Columba's Parish Church, I enter.  It is a place of quiet intimacy and while sitting in the pew I am reminded that people have worshipped at this site since 574AD.  Noticing a copy of the Book of Common Prayer I am  also reminded that Yeats had a Church of Ireland burial service when his remains were finally laid to rest.   (Yeats remains were brought back to Ireland from Roquebrune, France by sea in a corvette of the Irish navy, the Macha in 1948)

Celtic Cross at Drumcliffe graveyard

I leave you with a reading of "The Lake Isle of Innisfree"

Are you familiar with the poetry of WB Yeats?  Who is your favourite poet?