W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

The Mermaid (1909)

CruelFemaleFeminineFemininityGenderHeartLoveMaleManMasculineMasculinityMenMermaidMythMythologyRelationshipRelationshipsWomanWomen
Jump to readings

A mermaid found a swimming lad,
Picked him for her own,
Pressed her body to his body,
Laughed: and plunging down
Forgot in cruel happiness
That even lovers drown.

Readings

W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Fiona Shaw
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Patrick Kennedy
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Edna O'Brien

Edna O’Brien

W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Sinéad Cusack

Sinéad Cusack

W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Patrick Kennedy
Select reading
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Fiona Shaw
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Patrick Kennedy
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Edna O'Brien
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Sinéad Cusack
W.B. Yeats: 'The Mermaid' read by Patrick Kennedy

More by W.B. Yeats

View all
W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Politics (1939)

Read by Fiona Shaw & Patrick Kennedy

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Adam’s Curse (1904)

Read by Ruth Negga, Fiona Shaw, Lisa Dwan + 1 other

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

A Woman Homer Sung (1916)

Read by Fiona Shaw, Simon Callow, Bob Geldof + 2 others

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

When You are Old (1893)

Read by Mariella Frostrup, Edna O’Brien, Sinéad Cusack + 3 others

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven (1899)

Read by Gavin Drea, Bob Geldof, Fiona Shaw + 2 others

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

Girl’s Song (1930)

Read by Sinéad Cusack & Edna O’Brien

Sign up to our newsletter to receive latest news and event details