General Discussion

Atticus

(15,124 posts) Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:06 AM Jan 2019

William Butler Yeats: how did he know?

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity."

from "The Second Coming"

14 replies

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William Butler Yeats: how did he know? (Original Post) Atticus Jan 2019 OP

How did he know indeed. One of my favourites. yonder Jan 2019 #1

I have always thought that Yeats was prescient Glorfindel Jan 2019 #2

I find hope in your post. suffragette Jan 2019 #3

How wonderful it is to be able to interact with people who 1.) are politically aware, Atticus Jan 2019 #4

You are not alone MFM008 Jan 2019 #7

Recommended. H2O Man Jan 2019 #5

He knew, because there is nothing new under the sun. volstork Jan 2019 #6

Yep! RobinA Jan 2019 #8

One of my favorite anecdotes volstork Jan 2019 #9

Those kids and their riding on horses and eating with utensils. Hugin Jan 2019 #11

"GET YOUR CHARIOT OFF MY LAWN!" volstork Jan 2019 #14

K&R Hugin Jan 2019 #10

He is one of my favorite poets. lilactime Jan 2019 #12

KnR, because Yeats. Hekate Jan 2019 #13

yonder

(9,657 posts)

1. How did he know indeed. One of my favourites.

Reply to Atticus (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:16 AM

Jan 2019

Another line: "...And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,.."

Glorfindel

(9,719 posts)

2. I have always thought that Yeats was prescient

Reply to Atticus (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:19 AM

Jan 2019

There can be no doubt that "the worst are full of passionate intensity," but maybe, just maybe, the best are getting some of their conviction back.

suffragette

(12,232 posts)

3. I find hope in your post.

Reply to Glorfindel (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:21 AM

Jan 2019

Atticus

(15,124 posts)

4. How wonderful it is to be able to interact with people who 1.) are politically aware,

Reply to Glorfindel (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:30 AM

Jan 2019

2.) appreciate poetry, and 3.) easily use words like "prescient".

If you knew what my day was like, you'd understand my gratitude. Too many "rough beasts" in my community.

MFM008

(19,803 posts)

7. You are not alone

Reply to Atticus (Reply #4)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 05:25 AM

Jan 2019

in that appreciation.

H2O Man

(73,506 posts)

5. Recommended.

Reply to Atticus (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:33 AM

Jan 2019

Outstanding!

volstork

(5,399 posts)

6. He knew, because there is nothing new under the sun.

Reply to Atticus (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:51 AM

Jan 2019

He was writing about the upheaval in Europe following the Great War, but, as John Steinbeck said in the 30s, "It's not that evil wins, because it doesn't-- it just never dies." The fascists of the 30s and 40s were defeated, just as our current fascist resurgence will be, but our grandchildren will have to defeat some new demagoguery down the road, just as THEIR grandchildren will, and so on and so on...

People don't really change that much on a grand scale. There will always be those who seek to harm others, just as there will always be those who seek to save others. One is lucky if one lives in a time in which the latter outnumber the former.

As for me, I'm beginning to see the light at the end of this tunnel.

I just hope it's not a train.

RobinA

(9,886 posts)

8. Yep!

Reply to volstork (Reply #6)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 09:36 AM

Jan 2019

People are people. Read some Dickens. Every now and then in any of his books you have a "Holy shit, they had that back then!?" moment in reference to some social or political situation. But yeah, the human animal since we came in from the caves has had situations that are basically similar through the ages, just different details, and a range of similar reactions to them. I actually like running across this stuff, because it gives me hope. If THAT nonsense has been going on for THIS long, obviously the world isn't going to hell in a handbasket, it's always BEEN there. Things are not getting worse, which is what we tend to think.

volstork

(5,399 posts)

9. One of my favorite anecdotes

Reply to RobinA (Reply #8)

Wed Jan 9, 2019, 12:05 PM

Jan 2019

along theses lines refers to cunieform tablets unearthed in Sumer that bemoan how "youth is going to hell in a handbasket." Just like those crazy kids today with their Instagram and Snapchat!