the centre cannot hold

Co-Hosts - Ahavati & JohnnyBlaze  

Part XXXIV in an ongoing series introducing serious writers of DUP to the most well-known poets, both classical and modern. 

William Butler Yeats  ( 13 June 1865 – 28 January 1939 ) was an Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature.

Although he lived in London for 14 years of his childhood, Yeats maintained his cultural roots, featuring Irish legends and heroes in many of his poems and plays. He evolved into a nationalist; in essence, he was gung ho pro Ireland.

Yeats joined the Golden Dawn, a secret society devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Focused on theurgy and spiritual development, it inspired many present-day concepts of ritual and magic that are at the center of contemporary traditions such as Wicca. The Golden Dawn became one of the largest single influences on 20th-century Western occultism.

He spent almost three decades courting Irish nationalist Maud Gonne. She turned down 4 marriage proposals from him. Later, he proposed to her then 23 year-old daughter, Iseult, who likewise did not accept. He eventually married Georgiana Hyde-Lees, another Golden Dawn member.

Most of Yeats’s poetry used symbols from ordinary life and from familiar traditions, as writing and a need to interact with the living kept him tethered to the physical realm.

For more about William Butler Yeats, visit
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-butler-yeats

Guidelines 

Write a new Poem honoring Yeats inspired by any one of his poems ( and only one per entry ).

Do NOT copy paste your poem to the competition. It must be linked to your page with the below information.

While you are allowed a maximum of 2 entries, only the best of your entries is considered viable for the trophy.

Do your best to make us feel as though we are reading poems by Yeats.  The more we feel you "capturing his essence" in "your own words" , the higher you will score. This will involve choice of wording, delivery, subject material, formatting, target audience - a wide range of factors.   

The Rules 

1. Two entries per DUP persona.

2. No erotica; this is open to all ages and can't be viewed with an ECW ( Extreme Content Warning ).   

3. No exact word limit; however, attempt to keep it no more than 250 - 300.   

4. Any form is acceptable ( but studying the poet is advised ).   

5. You MUST tag your entries with the theme #WilliamButlerYeats. Failure to do so will result in your entry being disqualified.

6. In your poem's Author Notes box, provide a title and a direct link to the poem by Yeats that inspired yours. Without such, we have no way of determining if you were truly inspired by Yeats or simply swapped fresh words into his existing poetry ( which is a form of plagiarism ). Failure to not include this information will automatically disqualify your entry.

Comp will be judged by Ahavati & JohnnyBlaze. As in the past and in the event there is a tie, we will call in third ( and possibly fourth ) judge.

You have one month; best of luck to all entrants!

https://deepundergroundpoetry.com/poems/395490-the-centers-cannot-hold/

non-entry entry

Thank You , Johnny...

Now we are talking *my* subject matter , and language...

I do believe this is one I shall pursue with a purpose...

Yeats knew well , what I know...;)