This is a wonderful poem for teaching; working through the imagery with a class of bright students is among my best memories of the classroom. The poem itself gives me chills every time I read it.
Things do not perpetually fall apart, the center regains its hold, the blood has been spilt, by the barrel and more. Still, as nature renews itself, so do people, and the world goes on, for better or worse.
It is a great poem. But I have always agreed with Peter Simple / Michael Wharton’s prescription that there should be criminal penalties for citing it. He made that observation thirty years ago and the sentence retains its justice, though quite what penalties should be imposed is a matter for the judge’s temper. Even I would be loathe to impose the death penalty on someone who stares at me in the face and says “things fall apart the centre cannot hold”. I think they should be muted for at least 24 hours like God muting people who disbelieve prophecy in scripture. Dumbing is the most apposite penalty.
I was going to say something similar though considerably milder. I would only actively punish those who use it in the context of some paltry and fleeting situation, such as conflict within a political party.
Oh, I definitely agree, I'm just a bit more merciful toward the offenders. I wouldn't impose the death penalty. The stocks or the lash would do. At least for the first offense.
I think its the metre, which makes it so 'chantable' which unconsciously makes people remember the line so they repeat it endlessly and that triggers people
This is a wonderful poem for teaching; working through the imagery with a class of bright students is among my best memories of the classroom. The poem itself gives me chills every time I read it.
One of the essentials. I distinctly remember the physical thrill of reading it for the first time as a college freshman.
And you don't have to know anything about Yeats's esoteric business about gyres. It works just fine as simple description.
Things do not perpetually fall apart, the center regains its hold, the blood has been spilt, by the barrel and more. Still, as nature renews itself, so do people, and the world goes on, for better or worse.
It is a great poem. But I have always agreed with Peter Simple / Michael Wharton’s prescription that there should be criminal penalties for citing it. He made that observation thirty years ago and the sentence retains its justice, though quite what penalties should be imposed is a matter for the judge’s temper. Even I would be loathe to impose the death penalty on someone who stares at me in the face and says “things fall apart the centre cannot hold”. I think they should be muted for at least 24 hours like God muting people who disbelieve prophecy in scripture. Dumbing is the most apposite penalty.
I was going to say something similar though considerably milder. I would only actively punish those who use it in the context of some paltry and fleeting situation, such as conflict within a political party.
Hi Maclin! I suppose I’m just too harsh on this. They are reducing a poem to a kind of jingle and I think it must be punished.
Oh, I definitely agree, I'm just a bit more merciful toward the offenders. I wouldn't impose the death penalty. The stocks or the lash would do. At least for the first offense.
I think its the metre, which makes it so 'chantable' which unconsciously makes people remember the line so they repeat it endlessly and that triggers people