"Sailing to Byzantium" by W B Yeats (poetry reading)

The first poem I ever posted on YouTube. It would help if I could shake off this cold and cough that's been cramping my style for the past week...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Sailing
• to
• Byzantium

[longhairred]

Such a pleasure. Do you ever take requests?

[SpokenVerse]

@longhairred Many poems were suggested and I'll always consider suggestions, lthough there are poets I won't usually attempt - such as Sylvia Plath.

[alwayswinit4real]

Fantastic! You sound a bit like Anthony Hopkins.

[Cian2e]

@SpokenVerse I defended Plath because I found poluphloisboios' comment derogatory. Comparing Sylvia's work to that of a 'spoiled fourteen year old girl' is disrespectful. I'd hate you to think that my defending of Plath's work is equivalent to me being a 'pain in the arse', but I couldn't have let such an immature comment pass. I understand that Plath's work is unconventional, but it and she deserve respect nonetheless.

[SpokenVerse]

@Cian2e That's why I don't read Sylvia Plath: her admirers are a pain the the arse. But you'll find a couple of poems by Sylvia here that I did read.

[Cian2e]

@poluphloisboios I'm sorry, but I simply can't let that remark pass undisputed. How could you possibly justify such an ignorant and patronising comment about Sylvia Plath? Her work is magnificent; darkly compelling and unsettling. It holds a contemporary appeal that you are evidently too conservative and pretentious to appreciate.

[aindreasmac]

beautiful reading

[Hallbergrussy]

excellent work!

[thissong4you]

I love Yeats. I had listened to your earlier reading, and both are marvelous. This is truly one of those poems that needs to be read over and over again. The nuances just keep surfacing. I had the rare priviliege in October to stand by Yeats' grave in Drumcliff, County Sligo,and gaze up at Ben Bulben, and the even rarer privilege at sunset that day to stand in solitude on the banks of Lough Gill and gaze upon the tiny Lake Isle of Innisfree while listening to the sound of linnets' wings.

[SweeneyAgonistes]

Any chance you could do more readings of Yeats in the manner of "Under Ben Bulben"? That is one of my favorite recordings of yours.

[poluphloisboios]

I always see an image of a scarecrow whenever I read "a tattered coat upon a stick" and "every tatter in its mortal dress. And I'm glad to see that you don't attempt Sylvia Plath. Her poetry reminds me of a spoiled fourteen year old girl punching a teddy bear in impotent anger because "Daddy" won't buy her a pony.

[greyhoundfriend123]

Great poem and great reading as always! Your voice is always pleasant to my ear. I hope you are feeling better soon and happy holidays.