A Vision
Yeats in the Afterlife
Book, Music, Lyrics by Tom Megan
Additional lyrics from the poems of William Butler Yeats
Photo of Yeats from A Vision, book, music, and lyrics by Tom Megan
“A Vision is stunning both musically and imagistically. Above all, it is profoundly moving. Megan is a brilliant composer.”
The Ghost of William Butler Yeats, Ireland’s poet laureate, awakens from a dream to find his bones are being disturbed. It is 1948 and with the second world war ended, the Irish government has arranged for his repatriation to Ireland after nine years burial in France.
Yeats’ Ghost is not amused. He wishes to be free of his past life and move on to a new one. But memories arise and overcome him. He is haunted by Maud Gonne, the unrequited love of his life, the muse of his poetry. He remembers how close they were when young, fighting for a free and unified Ireland! But they broke apart as their idealistic efforts failed.
If Yeats’ Ghost can reach Maud before his bones are buried in Ireland, if they can rediscover what he calls “radical innocence,” he might find peace. And if two opposites like Maud and Willie can unite - one in the mortal world, one beyond the veil- perhaps Ireland can too.
Sample Songs
John Butler Yeats
Willie Yeats reading
Maud Gonne
Lady Augusta Gregory
William Butler Yeats