Poems Inspired by Yeats

My fellow traveler and I began our poetry night on Monday, November 5, 2007, inspired by the writing of William Butler Yeats. Her poem, below, was inpsired by "Adam's Curse."

A Few Lingering Thoughts

Along the lake we stretched our legs and sat,
having taxi'd, trained, and walked so far that day.
Your animated tone had become flat...
I sensed what it was you were going to say.
I steeled myself, quite stoic, knowing that
a stronger love would not have flit away.

I felt that it was doomed, for from the start,
you spoke of thoughts, ideas so beyond me.
And though your charm and wit had won my heart,
your mind and soul craved more than I could be.
Fool that I was, full knowing we would part,
I rushed ahead, guileless, mind set on "we."

The years have shown me more than I knew then.
I've grown into a self of which I'm proud,
if prone to some self-doubt, now and again.
Sometimes when I am weaving through a crowd,
I think of braving El throngs with my friend
and wince to hear I've said your name aloud.

A decade's passed--more--since that final kiss,
with few words spoken save a rare hello.
What brings me now to think and write on this?
I needed to admit that this is so:
there are some parts of you that I still miss:
the laugh, the smile, the voice so sweet and low.

(c) hmh, 2007

This poem was inspired in part by the W.B. Yeats poem, an "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death."

The Redeemed Matador

i stand inside the bullring
the lonely matador;
my sword raised above my head
facing deadly horns;
i have killed many of your brethren
their meat sold to the poor;
and i feel old, tired at thirty, hateful
of all i've done before;
but i stare you down as you stand ready
your death i abhor;
i begin my approach, and then i stop short
lowering my sword;
today, i await your justice, redemption at last!
my friend, the day is yours.

(c) fprm, 2007