Harry Eyres' Slow Lane column in the FT today featured a list of his 2007 highlights. In it he referred to a poem by Yeats called Beautiful Lofty Things where Yeats discusses memories and images he found special. It's a great poem.
'Beautiful Lofty Things'
Beautiful lofty things; O'Leary's noble head;
My father upon the Abbey stage, before him a raging crowd.
"This Land of Saints", and then as the applause died out,
"Of plaster Saints"; his beautiful mischievous head thrown back.
Standish O'Grady supporting himself between the tables
Speaking to a drunken audience high nonsensical words;
Augusta Gregory seated at her great ormolu table
Her eightieth winter approaching; "Yesterday he threatened my life,
I told him that nightly from six to seven I sat at this table
The blinds drawn up"; Maud Gonne at Howth station waiting a train,
Pallas Athena in that straight back and arrogant head;
All the Olympians; a thing never known again.
-- William Butler Yeats
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