To A Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing

William Butler Yeats

NOW all the truth is out,
Be secret and take defeat
From any brazen throat,
For how can you compete,
Being honour bred, with one
Who, were it proved he lies,
Were neither shamed in his own
Nor in his neighbours' eyes?
Bred to a harder thing
Than Triumph, turn away
And like a laughing string
Whereon mad fingers play
Amid a place of stone,
Be secret and exult,
Because of all things known
That is most difficult.

Next 10 Poems

• William Butler Yeats : To A Poet, Who Would Have Me Praise Certain Bad Poets, Imitators Of His And Mine
• William Butler Yeats : To A Shade
• William Butler Yeats : To A Squirrel At Kyle-na No
• William Butler Yeats : To A Wealthy Man Who Promised A Second Subscription To The Dublin Municipal Gallery If It Were Proved The People Wanted Pictures
• William Butler Yeats : To A Young Beauty
• William Butler Yeats : To A Young Girl
• William Butler Yeats : To An Isle In The Water
• William Butler Yeats : To Be Carved On A Stone At Thoor Ballylee
• William Butler Yeats : To Dorothy Wellesley
• William Butler Yeats : To His Heart, Bidding It Have No Fear

Previous 10 Poems

• William Butler Yeats : To A Child Dancing In The Wind
• William Butler Yeats : Three Things
• William Butler Yeats : Three Songs To The Same Tune
• William Butler Yeats : Three Songs To The One Burden
• William Butler Yeats : Three Movements
• William Butler Yeats : Three Marching Songs
• William Butler Yeats : Those Images
• William Butler Yeats : Those Dancing Days Are Gone
• William Butler Yeats : These Are The Clouds
• William Butler Yeats : The Withering Of The Boughs