World War 1 Poetry Project | Page 14

An Irish Airman foresees his Death I KNOW that I shall meet my fate Somewhere among the clouds above; Those that I fight I do not hate Those that I guard I do not love; My country is Kiltartan Cross, My countrymen Kiltartan’s poor, No likely end could bring them loss Or leave them happier than before. Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, Nor public man, nor cheering crowds, A lonely impulse of delight Drove to this tumult in the clouds; I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death. The poem read by: Patrizio Piccioni http://vocaroo.com/i/s0N3XQkSflXX Ludovica Solitario http://vocaroo.com/i/s1OgltRAPU17 W. B. Yeats was born in Dublin in 1865 and died in 1939. He was a poet and a dramatist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/william-butler-yeats Je sais que je vais rencontrer mon destin quelque part parmi les nuages les plus hauts Je ne deteste pas ceux que je combats Je n'aime pas ceux que je protège Mon pays est Kiltartan's cross Mes compatriotes, les pauvres de Kiltartan Quelle que soit l'issue,ils ne perdent rien Et ne seront pas pas plus heureux qu'avant Ni la loi, ni le devoir ne m'ordonnent de me battre