1. The SecondComing
Turningand turninginthe wideninggyre
The falconcannot hearthe falconer;
Thingsfall apart; the centre cannothold;
Mere anarchyis looseduponthe world,
The blood-dimmedtide isloosed,andeverywhere
The ceremonyof innocence isdrowned;
The bestlack all conviction,whilethe worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surelysome revelationisathand;
Surelythe SecondComingisathand.
The SecondComing!Hardlyare those wordsout
Whena vast image outof SpiritusMundi
Troublesmysight:somewhereinsandsof the desert
A shape withlionbodyandthe headof a man,
A gaze blankand pitilessasthe sun,
Is movingitsslowthighs,while all aboutit
Reel shadowsof the indignantdesertbirds.
The darknessdropsagain;but nowI know
That twentycenturiesof stonysleep
Were vexedtonightmare bya rockingcradle,
Andwhat roughbeast,itshour come roundat last,
SlouchestowardsBethlehemtobe born?