Back to Index

On being asked for a War Poem

by W. B. Yeats, 1919

I think it better that in times like these
A poet keep his mouth shut, for in truth
We have no gift to set a statesman right;
He has had enough of meddling who can please
A young girl in the indolence of her youth,
Or an old man upon a winter's night.

Published in The Wild Swans at Coole
Tags:

Any corrections or public domain poems I should have here? Email me at poems (at) this domain.