Yeats and Irish politics
If you haven't heard it yet, I recommend this week's edition of In Our Time, which examines the relationship between W.B. Yeats and Irish politics. It's quite superb. Melvyn Bragg's guests are Roy Foster, Carroll Professor of Irish History at Oxford University, Fran Brearton, Reader in English at Queen's University,and Warwick Gould, Director of the Institute of English Studies in the School of Advanced Study, University of London.
Comment number 1.
At 21st Apr 2008, jovialPTL wrote:W.B. Yeats was a dabler in the occult. Very dangerous. He engaged with ghosts and spirits. Those who love his poetry are opening themselves to those same spirits, which may accompany readings.
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Comment number 2.
At 21st Apr 2008, petermorrow wrote:PTL
Before you read any more, you need to know that I consider myself to be a christian.
W. B. Yeats was a 'dabbler in the occult', was he? I had no idea.
'Those who love his poetry are opening themselves to those same spirits.'
Really? If you actually believe that then read no further.
WARNING WARNING READ NO FURTHER!!!
Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
(NB no spirits yet!)
But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.
and so on...
Anyway, I will arise and go now, it's late.
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Comment number 3.
At 22nd Apr 2008, brianmcclinton wrote:And, JovialPTL, tread softly because you tread on my dreams
And, JovialPTL, the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity
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Comment number 4.
At 22nd Apr 2008, jovialPTL wrote:Petermorrow you mock the occult but the bible takes it very seriously, as do all bible centred churches.
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Apr 2008, petermorrow wrote:PTL
Let me be crystal clear.
**I did not mock the occult.**
I happen to believe in a real devil, I happen to believe in real spirits and I happen to believe in real angels.
I happen to believe that the Bible is the authoritative word of God, that Jesus was both truly God and truly human. I happen to believe in salvation in Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone and to the glory of God alone.
I also happen to believe that the cross put an end to death and evil and that Jesus "having disarmed the powers and authorities he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
The church I attend is Biblical and Reformed (as opposed to evangelical and traditionalistic), and we take this seriously.
What I do not take seriously is the idea that my life is in peril because of the poems I, or anyone else reads: to do that would be to mock God.
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Apr 2008, jovialPTL wrote:Petermorrow, you should walk carefully in the meadow of Yeats' poetry.
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