Almost to the end of the alphabet - this time it's a poem by William Butler Yeats, perhaps his best known, and least understood.
Here is a link to Old Poetry, if you are not familiar with his work.
http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/William_Butler_Yeats
Please read the poem, and write me a poem in response to it. Whatever it makes you think of, whatever images you see - follow your immediate reaction.
Usual rules.
The Second Coming
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.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
I will read but not comment until judging. You are free to edit until then. Have fun, and Good Luck!
Here is a link to Old Poetry, if you are not familiar with his work.
http://oldpoetry.com/oauthor/show/William_Butler_Yeats
Please read the poem, and write me a poem in response to it. Whatever it makes you think of, whatever images you see - follow your immediate reaction.
Usual rules.
The Second Coming
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.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
I will read but not comment until judging. You are free to edit until then. Have fun, and Good Luck!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 14
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 300, Bronze: 100
- Final notes: Thank you all so much for your entries. The standard here was so high, each poem a wonderful response to one of my favourite poems, and I am honoured to read them.
It was difficult to decide places, as all deserve recognition. I had to go with my heart, and I hope you agree with me!
Contest Winners
-
written words shall fall from the page
spoken words we won’t comprehend• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
The interlocking cones of history
spin in their inevitable courses,• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Your simple silver,
sterling, in the dark blood• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
The righteous shall be tested
the humble become weak,by AliceinPoetryLand 34 lines, 3 comments, on Oct 6 6:31 AM. In Contest, Yeats Inspired, Spiritual, Thoughts, Dark• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
Inspired: William Butler Yeatsby Cannonsfire 19 lines, 3 comments, on Sep 29 10:56 PM. In Society• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
-
Governments come
but cannot stand• Viewed by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [9]
1 - 9 of 9
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
-
I hope you are enjoying yout continuing poetic series, Mercedes. You really like to make people work; there is nothing easy about your choice of subjects. Makes for some great reading, though!
-
I love that poem ...
and Yeats in general, but I'm just not up to writing anything now.
Good luck with the contest. -
Congrats to All the Winners!!!
-
Congratulations to the winners and thank youi for hosting
Gaylene
-
Many congratulations to the winners
A great contest
Adding your comment:
1 - 5 of 5
