On Those that Hated the 'Playboy of the Western World', 1907
Once, when midnight smote the air,
Eunuchs ran through Hell and met
From thoroughfare to thoroughfare,
While that great Juan galloped by;
And like these to rail and sweat
Staring upon his sinewy thigh.
Commentary
A nice follow-up to yesterday’s piece:
Yeats was never overly fond of critics, and it shows in quite a few of his poems. (See, for instance, “The Scholars”, Minstrels Poem #1482). And when some misbegotten reviewers had the temerity to criticise his friend J. M. Synge, this was Yeats’ marvellous (and vicious) rejoinder – a fitting addition to our “The Poet Cranky” theme.
— Thomas