Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TOM O'ROUGHLEY, by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS



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TOM O'ROUGHLEY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Though logic-choppers rule the town
Last Line: "I'd dance a measure on his grave."
Alternate Author Name(s): Yeats, W. B.
Subject(s): Friendship


"Though logic-choppers rule the town,
And every man and maid and boy
Has marked a distant object down,
An aimless joy is a pure joy,"
Or so did Tom O'Roughley say
That saw the surges running by,
"And wisdom is a butterfly
And not a gloomy bird of prey.

"If little planned is little sinned
But little need the grave distress.
What's dying but a second wind?
How but in a zig-zag wantonness
Could trumpeter Michael be so brave?"
Or something of that sort he said,
"And if my dearest friend were dead,
I'd dance a measure on his grave."





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