On Those that Hated the 'Playboy of the Western World', 1907 -- William Butler Yeats

A nice follow-up to yesterday's piece:

(Poem #1520) 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. -- William Butler Yeats

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.