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1865–1939

VI

William Butler Yeats

Violence upon the roads: violence of horses; Some few have handsome riders, are garlanded On delicate sensitive ear or tossing mane, But wearied running round and round in their courses

All break and vanish, and evil gathers head: Herodias’ daughters have returned again A sudden blast of dusty wind and after Thunder of feet, tumult of images,

Their purpose in the labyrinth of the wind; And should some crazy hand dare touch a daughter All turn with amorous cries, or angry cries, According to the wind, for all are blind.

But now wind drops, dust settles; thereupon There lurches past, his great eyes without thought Under the shadow of stupid straw-pale locks, That insolent fiend Robert Artisson

To whom the love-lorn Lady Kyteler brought Bronzed peacock feathers, red combs of her cocks.

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VI · William Butler Yeats · Poetry Cove