Today’s quote is taken from ‘The Second Coming’ by W.B. Yeats.
‘The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;’
In Blood they came
In blood they came and blood they took,
For the sake of sins of some eastern race,
The black-robed men with the long-dead god.
In war they came and war they waged,
They brought the sword and the hanging rope,
The thin-lipped men with the cold, dead eyes.
They drove the hart from the mountain side,
The white hind fled from their chanting hoarse,
And the bright-haired folk fled across the sea.
The tide was once a lightsome thing,
Of the waves’ low song and the hiss of foam,
But heavy now with the weight of blood,
It washes in and it washes out,
And never in all these hungry years,
Has it washed the pain from this island’s heart.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Everywhere too heavy with the weight of blood…(K)
Must be something to do with all those peaceful religions. All of them.
https://fmmewritespoems.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/a-month-with-yeats-8/
This is a step into the darkness. I love your poem. It reminds a little of some of Kipling’s more narrative, chanting stuff. I think it must be the rhythm. Religion doesn’t seem to do much for people, does it?
Religion is worse than the plague. At least there’s a cure for that!
Lets hope so. In times the poverty raises, the religions come back/ where brought back also by politicans, and maybe also war-like scenarios. ;-(
It’s a good excuse for violence. Maybe that’s why it was invented in the first place!
Yes, Jane! I fully agree.. Lets hope the best, for the future. Michael
🙂
This verse is a timely and sobering inspiration. Here’s my thoughts:
https://katmyrman.com/2017/11/08/remembering-we/
It makes me angry that this nonsense never ends. I guess it gives men a sense of justification for their lust for power and blood. This is like a dirge.
I don’t understand it either. It isn’t just because it suits nebulous and murky corporations, it suits individual cruelty and violent urges too.
Yes, exactly.
This is very relevant, the fear of the loss peace is palpable and
I don’t suppose humankind has ever been altogether peaceful, but I imagine that at one time they knew what they were fighting for, and it was probably something very basic and necessary.
Indeed, land , food, freedom. To be honest though humans have always fought about religion… ,🌹
Only since monotheism was invented. It’s only God who insists on being the one and only.
Indeed God and Mamon !
Hand in glove. The great social controllers.
Yes indeed 💜
🙂
And I share it too 💜
🙂
lovely poem, Jane 🙂
https://ladyleemanilablog.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/a-month-with-yeats-day-eight/
Thank you 🙂
This is a great quote and your poem captures the mood very well.
Unfortunately my posting will be late as for the next three days my lunch time is full with appointments. Trying to get ready fro my upcoming trip in three weeks.
If your lunchtimes are full of appointments you’ll have less time to eat. That should be good for the waistline!
Alas, they are all lunch appointments😭
Oh dear 😦
Mexican today, Indian tomorrow. I need to be careful of what I put into my mouth.
You should ask for the vegetarian menu…
Spinach enchilada.
I felt bad that I had to leave the black beans, rice and sour cream on the plate but what to do😢
The portions are always so huge over there anyway.
Someone had suggested to halve the portions before eating and bag the remaining half.
Sounds sensible. Even more sensible would be for restaurants to stop pushing massive portions at people.
And massive price😢
Another good reason 🙂
I had to sit down to read this one- the weight of it. Perfectly packed with a punch!
https://deuxiemepeau.blog/2017/11/08/when-there-was-but-a-wave-day-8-of-a-month-with-yeats/
Some subjects need a head-butt 🙂
OK. Got this out of my system.
https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/to-the-victors-yeats-challenge-day-8/
Shout and scream and kick the doors down 🙂
Or, just write a poem. 😉
Safer maybe 🙂
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
More thanks 🙂
Intolerance
https://rivrvlogr.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/judge-not/
Jane, here is the shortlink to my post today. Late but still today here.
https://wp.me/p73yZZ-3Nh
A dark meditation, indeed, Jane. Lyrically rich, as I’ve come to expect! I thought of the Roman invasion of Britannia as I read your poem. We’ve always sought ways to conquer—or destroy—each other.
Here’s my offering:
https://frankjtassone.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/a-tanka-for-a-month-with-yeats-of-bloodied-tides-and-lost-innocence-poetry/
The Romans brought a culture, and when they left, the Briton nobility hung into it because it was positive in many ways. But the Romans never imposed their gods and their gods left with them. Unlike the monks with their God…
To be clear, when I read your poem, I remembered this story: Dreaming the Eagle by Manda Scott
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1309025https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1309025
The novel depicts the invasion of Britain by the Roman Legions during Claudius’ reign.
I don’t know this book. Looked it up on Goodreads and read the blurb. I don’t think it’s accurate to say that she was the only woman to lead a Celtic tribe into battle, nor was she defending Celtic culture. She was angry, extremely angry, and the Iceni followed the wife of their dead leader. She hated the Romans (rightly so, they killed her husband, raped her and her daughters and then wouldn’t hand over the family silver) and she wanted revenge. She must have been a tremendous woman!
I read the entire series, and they’re all great reads. I’m sure the author took some poetic license. I agree that Boudica may not have been the only woman leader of a Celtic tribe. However, she is the most famous of the ones that opposed the Romans.
She is. And it’s true also that the Romans wrote the histories not the Celts, and they weren’t keen on praising rebel leaders, much less women!
Indeed! Especially women that succeeded in defeating them in any way! She must have achieved some victories so significant that even Roman historians could not ignore her! 😀
I think she started off winning skirmishes, but the weight of the Roman legions proved too heavy and she was defeated.
Indeed 😞
I’m glad I’m not alone in detesting organised religion. Most of people commenting are not fazed either which is a nice surprise. I usually draw flack when I write anti-religion stuff. The poem is terrific!
Thank you 🙂 I don’t know how I’ve managed to dodge the bullets. I did get comments from a Nazi (let’s call a spade a spade) whose pro-Islam stance was a blind for violent antisemitism, but after I’d made it clear that his views weren’t welcome on my blog he buggered off.
Lucky he buggered off. Some don’t you know! I know of women who had to close their social media accounts because of the harassment!
I know I’ve got off lightly. I don’t think you can report people to WP either.
One can! I had occasion to report someone and there’s this whole procedure. I forget the links but one can find it if necessary! A search will get you there.
If I get any grief, I’ll hound them, don’t worry 🙂