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John G Coster's avatar

In the poem, a rough beast was slouching toward Bethlehem as indeed we see today with the quality of the political class in the West: beasts with no subtly of mind or scope of understanding. I followed Reiner’s work from early on. He may not have stopped the beast but he slowed it down and helped many avoid the poison. I for one will always be indebted to him.

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Mr. Skylight's avatar

Here’s the source of the famous poem

“The Second Coming” is a poem written by Irish poet William Butler Yeats in 1919

That contains the line

“Slouches towards Bethlehem”

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: a waste of desert sand;

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

Wind 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

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Amy Harlib's avatar

One of the greatest poems ever written in the English language!

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Rima E Laibow MD's avatar

I am always eager to support your work, Elsa, but I am confused. You initiated a community of support recently. I this the same activity or a different one. When you say that people will be gathered around issues that they are passionate about, what do you have in mind, exactly? A discussion group? An action-sharing group? A space for lectures and discussion? A political action and mobilization community? An emotional support group for those of us already in the battle?

Napoleon was asked if he planned to regain ground he had lost in a battle in Italy. His response was, "Land I can regain. Time? Never." which I understand. One of your times conflicts directly with my live Dr Rima Truth Reports podcast (6-8 PM Eastern), but the other is available to me. I want to understand what your vision is so I can determine if I can afford the time to join or if I cannot afford not to spend the time to join or if I cannot afford to spend the time to join.

Please tell us more about what you have in mind.

And please accept my warm regards at the same time.

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mimi's avatar

"Slouching Toward Bethlehem" is a compilation of essays about California by Joan Didion, which is quite different from the Yeats poem.

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mimi's avatar

The Second Coming

By William Butler Yeats

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?

Expand full comment
Amy Harlib's avatar

One of the greatest poems ever written in the English language!

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