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"Leda and the Swan" is a poem by William Butler Yeats on Leda's sexual encounter with the Greed God Zeus who was transformed as a swan. The story of Leda and Zeus is well known, as it has been the theme of not only this poem, but many other pieces of art (like those of Da Vinci and Michelangelo).
Though it is common knowledge that Zeus was a playboy, and the person who actually "came down" on Leda, few works have actually illustrated the story in Leda's light. Even the paintings based on this story show only a woman and a swan placidly hugging each other, which is probably far from the actual scene of the crime.
Yeats changes this and show the incident through the eyes of Leda. "The great wings beating still", "her thighs caressed", "he holds her helpless breasts upon his breast." all show the intensity of the whole event.
The poem continues to illustrate Leda's emotional state, through her "terrifed vague fingers." They clearly show her fear and uncertainty of being with King of the Gods. It also continues to show the possibility and power, impact that moment might have on the future.
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