Irish Airman Foresees His Death

Stanza 1
This poem was inspired by an Irish friend of Yeats. Major Robert Gregory was an Irish man from kiltarten cross in Galway.

Stanza 2 and 3
He was a British soldier who fought with the British Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in 1918. He knew he was going to die somewhere in the clouds above shot down whilst in the clouds.

 He doesnt hate the Germans. He does his job because he gets a thrill when he goes flying in the air. He also goes to war because he doesnt see anything in kiltarten cross so he decides to go.

 His home is the most important. He says its what he loves and feels protective towards. He had no time for politicians or public leaders cheering crowds. He takes pleasure in flying and risking his life. It is a self-sacrificing death.