Anyone out there who could possibly tell me who was this British romantic (?)poet who once wrote in one of his poems that Christ came to divide (or else separate) the world in two halves, the East and the West? I'd like a complete citation, please.
A date I cannot provide, I'm sorry, Anglika! The only info I have is that this poet may be from the romantic period -- but even this I'm not sure -- and that maybe his words may have been metaphorical. I once thought it might be W.B. Yeats (who, btw, is Irish, I know!), but I've looked his complete works more than twice and still haven't found anything like it...
Unless there is someone out there with a comprehensive knowledge of English poetry who will instantly recognise what you want, this seems to me impossible to track on the amount of information. Where did you get it from, and by any chance do you have at least one line from the poem?
I heard about it twenty years ago or so, and just can't remember who told me. Actually, I don't even remember reading the poem myself. I guess you're right: it'll take someone who's thoroughly knowledgeable to instantly recognize just what I want. Would you please keep this in mind if you will, and let me know if you come across this piece of info? Thanks!
I'm not sure, I think I met a citation from Kipling with the meaning like the West is the West and the East is the East and that you can't change them... Might be from the poem you mean. Have to check though...
Yes, I mean this one:
Rudyard Kipling
THE BALLAD OF EAST AND WEST
Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face,
tho' they come from the ends of the earth!
... the full text of the Ballad please see here
British romantic poet? 
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