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1865–1939

V

William Butler Yeats

Come let us mock at the great That had such burdens on the mind And toiled so hard and late To leave some monument behind,

Nor thought of the levelling wind. Come let us mock at the wise; With all those calendars whereon They fixed old aching eyes,

They never saw how seasons run, And now but gape at the sun. Come let us mock at the good That fancied goodness might be gay,

Grown tired of their solitude, Upon some brand-new happy day: Wind shrieked — and where are they? Mock mockers after that

That would not lift a hand maybe To help good, wise or great To bar that foul storm out, for we Traffic in mockery.

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V · William Butler Yeats · Poetry Cove