The Leaders of the Crowd (by W.B. Yeats)
1911 photo of Yeats by George Charles Beresford
The Leaders of the Crowd
by William Butler Yeats
from Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921)
They must to keep their certainty accuse
All that are different of a base intent;
Pull down established honour; hawk for news
Whatever their loose phantasy invent
And murmur it with bated breath, as though
The abounding gutter had been Helicon
Or calumny a song. How can they know
Truth flourishes where the student's lamp has shone,
And there alone, that have no solitude?
So the crowd come they care not what may come.
They have loud music, hope every day renewed
And heartier loves; that lamp is from the tomb.
To read a Jesus Crisis blog about Yeats, visit
Y is for Yeats (my favorite poets from A to Z - volume 25)
For more Yeats, we suggest these volumes from Amazon:
Posted by Jesus Crisis at 11/12/2009 12:50 PM 
Categories: British,Poetry,Irish,Yeats (William Butler),1900s
Tags: British Poetry British Literature William Butler Yeats Michael Robartes and the Dancer W.B. Yeats 1921
Categories: British,Poetry,Irish,Yeats (William Butler),1900s
Tags: British Poetry British Literature William Butler Yeats Michael Robartes and the Dancer W.B. Yeats 1921
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