Sailing to byzantium by w.b. yeats

The paper ” Sailing to Byzantium by W. B. Yeats” is a delightful example of an essay on literature. The poem Sailing to Byzantium by W. B. Yeats, informs about the speaker’s vigor and liveliness that he feels while being in his land. In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker indicates towards the vitality and heartiness felt by not only people but also by other living creatures such as ‘ fish’ and ‘ fowl’. Everything around him is young and happy. The scene’s liveliness is sketched by the speaker by means of his words, “ That is no country for old men”, “ young in one another’s arms”, “ birds in the trees”, “ sensual music” and “ unageing intellect”. The speaker wants to be in Byzantium because he does not suit the land where he is already. He considers Byzantium as an idealized city. He views himself as a “ paltry thing” because of his being old. He wants to escape from the young land to Byzantium, which is an ancient Greek city. The speaker regards Byzantium as Holy. He thinks that he his body is like a “ dying animal” but his heart is “ sick with desire”. He feels that by being in Byzantium, he can flee from the disagreement between his desire and body. The speaker wants to die after being in Byzantium because he wants to get rid of his wasted body. He beseeches God to take away his body. He says that he will never wish to regain his “ bodily form”. Firstly, he wishes to be a “ Grecian’s goldsmith’s make”, which means a statue. Secondly, he wishes to be a bird that is able to sing forever. The speaker keeps the view that the youth is neglectful and uncaring. According to the speaker, art is something ever living. Art can last beyond natural things. As far as human spirit is concerned, he thinks that it is mortal and can only be free after his death.