November Yeats Challenge was a feeble place-holder title that I’m getting rid of today. Same challenge, different title.
I had pulled out at least a month’s worth of lines from Yeats’ poetry when I saw the photo below on Paul Militaru’s photography blog a couple of days ago. I immediately thought of one of the lines I had selected.
“With all their ancient faces like rain-beaten stones,”—W.B. Yeats
If you don’t want to be influenced by Paul’s photo, please close your eyes now.
Photo ©Paul Militaru
The old ones
They watch us when we are sleeping,
The old ones, when we walk,
The fields and the oak-hung paths.
They are there in the shallow pools
Of morning and evening,
Sunlight and moonlight,
And of all times, the fickle, vacillating dusk,
When time and tide and tomorrows mingle
In the heaving movement of the heavens.
Heavy with dust and distance,
They watch with their hooded eyes
And wait for the inevitable,
Widening crack in the carapace,
The grappling for the thread of faith,
When we too discover
That all things have an end.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Excellent! 🙂
Your fish looks about a thousand years old, and infinitely wise.
Powerful poem! Each line hits a punch. One of my favorites: “In the heaving movement of the heavens.” But also ” Heavy with dust and distance.” But also … sigh, I’ll stop here. All the lines make an incredible poem.
Thank you! Yeats is a hard act to follow, but I’m happy just to follow and pick up inspiration from his words.
I actually find your poetry more accessible. It hit me in the heart…
It’s more accessible because I only skim the surface. I don’t have Yeats’ genius to go any deeper 🙂 His writing is so full of symbolism and mysticism, that getting all the allusions requires quite an education. The genius is making something that just feels beautiful even if we don’t altogether understand it.
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Thank you!
Very powerful, Jane.
And I like the new challenge title. 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I’ve been on pain killers for my back (busted it again) since Monday so my brain has been a bit blurry. That’s my excuse for leaving such a feeble title!
Oh–so sorry to hear about your back. 😦 I didn’t think of the title as feeble–I just assumed it was to go along with November NaNo and such. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
The back’s almost better thanks. I wrenched it hard on Sunday afternoon but it’s healing up quickly. I did have NaNo in mind (obviously) when I had the idea of the challenge, I just hadn’t bothered to think of a proper name for it.
I’m glad it’s almost better. 🙂
No twinges at all today 🙂
Yay! 🙂
🙂
Sorry about your back Jane but congratulations on this poem, l also loved the lines ‘in the heaving movement of the heavens’
so weighty!!
Back’s clearing up a treat, thanks! It helps having a manservant who takes care of all the heavy jobs like peeling potatoes, boiling kettles etc etc.
It sounds like you are a lucky lady along with being a very talented one!!!
I wouldn’t say life has been un long fleuve tranquille but we’ve managed to steer clear of the rocks so far 🙂
😂😂😂😂 a little rock in the water now and then is just a learning curve!!
Do we ever get to the end of all these curves though?
Yes, just to make way for other curves!!! 😳
I thought so 🙂
So addictive!!! Thank you for the nourishment Jane!!
https://deuxiemepeau.blog/2017/11/03/salmon-dancers-day-3-of-a-month-with-yeats/
It’s completely selfish—this was my daily prompt for me 🙂
hope you’re feeling better, Jane 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/a-month-with-yeats-day-three-in-shadorma/
Much better, thanks! The wonders of modern drugs 🙂
Wonderful as always Jane…my favorite line: “When time and tide and tomorrows mingle”…lovely. Here’s my little verse then. Today’s quote was such a beautiful one to consider as today’s inspiration.
https://katmyrman.com/2017/11/03/wisdom-silenced/
Thank you! I’m pleased that line gave you food for thought.
I like your comment earlier (to someone else) about Yeats’ genius symbolism and mysticism…I am so excited about your featuring Yeats as lately the thought of reading his work was popping into my mind and now you are curating an intro (I go to the full poems) and he is certainly inspiring wonderful lines from you 🙂
I’m glad you’re enjoying dipping into his poetry, Janice. I should have noted down the poems I took the lines from. Some of them are familiar and well-loved lines, but I don’t always know the title of the poem. I’ll add the title in future if I can remember it 🙂
Here you go! I can’t do this every day, but I’m enjoying the prompts and your poetry, too.
https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/a-month-with-yeats-3/
I’m pleased 🙂 Join in when you can. It’s pure self-indulgence on my part. If I could write like anyone I’d choose Yeats, so this is a good excuse to try.
Well done Jane.
You are making it more and more difficult for us poor fellows to follow the old guy Yeats.
Let’s see what pearl of wisdom I can gather delving deep into the eyes of The Old Ones.
Just follow the guidelines of the master 🙂
And where are those?
The words. Just let yourself be carried along by the words.
…. gently down the stream.
That’s the idea. You’re getting there 🙂
We shall see.
🙂
And I posted the one for day four.
I got it, thank you 🙂
Well done Jane.
You are making it more and more difficult for us poor fellows to follow the old guy Yeats.
Let’s see what pearl of wisdom I can gather delving deep into the eyes of The Old Ones.
Here is the pingback to my post for today : https://wp.me/p73yZZ-3Ja
I combined your challenge with Eliot’s today. 🙂 https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/ancient-faces-day-3-yeats-and-shadorma-challenge/
I saw, and I like.
🙂
Another wonderful work, Jane. Thanks!
I’ve added mine:
https://frankjtassone.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/free-style-friday-11317-a-tanka-for-a-month-with-yeats-day-3/
Time, Tide & Tomorrows!!! Excellent writing, Jane!
Here is my poem: https://jillys2016.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/triangluar-rain/
Thanks!
Still dark, unfortunately.
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/troubling-times/
Like the times we live in.
Really powerful, sorry it’s so late very hectic day. 💜💜 Here is my late entry.
https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/a-month-with-yeats-day-3/
Our clocks have changed so I think we’re the same time at present.
https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/beyond-years/