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josie's avatar

Does Yeats' famous poem, "The Second Coming" seem to speak to this moment in time?

Asked by josie (30934points) February 3rd, 2011

http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html

Ideological division, economic dysfunction, clash of cultures, terrorism etc.etc.

This great poem (arguably the greatest poem of the 20th Century) was written after World War I.

But the grim, apocalyptic imagery seems appropriate for our time as well.

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4 Answers

TexasDude's avatar

I think ee cummings’ Jehova Buried, Satan Dead is rather fitting, actually.

Jehovah buried,Satan dead,
do fearers worship Much and Quick;
badness not being felt as bad,
itself thinks goodness what is meek;
obey says toc,submit says tic,
Eternity’s a Five Year Plan:
if Joy with Pain shall hand in hock
who dares to call himself a man?

go dreamless knaves on Shadows fed,
your Harry’s Tom,your Tom is Dick;
while Gadgets murder squack and add,
the cult of Same is all the chic;
by instruments,both span and spic,
are justly measured Spic and Span:
to kiss the mike if Jew turn kike
who dares to call himself a man?

loudly for Truth have liars pled,click;
where Boobs are holy,poets mad,
illustrious punks of Progress shriek;
when Souls are outlawed,Hearts are sick,
Hearts being sick,Minds nothing can:
if Hate’s a game and Love’s a fuck
who dares to call himself a man?

King Christ,this world is all aleak;
and lifepreservers there are none:
and waves which only He may walk
Who dares to call Himself a man.

josie's avatar

That one too.

mammal's avatar

@josie the reference to the sphinx and the Desert and the falconer is pertinent. Good call.

Dr_Dredd's avatar

It was originally written to describe WWI-era Europe, with the Communist and other revolutions overcoming long-standing governments. The imagery is certainly apocalyptic, though, and speaks to our times as well.

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