Almanac Poetry: In Response to W.B. Yeats
La danse de Salomé ou les papillons d’or, by Gaston Bussière, oil on canvas, 1923. Private Collection. [Wikimedia Commons.]
In Response to W. B. Yeats
Ah yes – how can one tell
the dancer from the dance?
Well –
the dancer is the person doing it,
the dance is what they do.
Bloody obvious, really.
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws…I’m Feeling Too Indolent, is available HERE
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Got a chuckle out of me, KD.
Very different media and times, but I was reminded of a response from Homer to Lisa in the Simpsons during the reign of Homer’s vigilante justice service.
Lisa: ‘Don’t you see you’re abusing your power like all vigilantes? I mean if you’re the police, who will police the police?’
Homer: ‘Hmm…I dunno, the coastguard?’
Thanks, JL, for your response – it got a chuckle out of me, like your reaction to the poem itself.
Great fun, KD! A ‘spade-is-a-spade’ response to one of Yeats’ most celebrated lines.
Thanks, DB – I like your way of putting it!