A late second day of Jane Dougherty’s Yeats Challenge. I probably won’t be doing every day, but I do love these quotations. Here is today’s:
“… the dark folk who live in souls
Of passionate men, like bats in the dead trees;” —W.B. Yeats
For this second Yeats’ challenge, I’ve used Jane’s poetic form, but added a rhyme and borrowed her regret. I seem stuck on shadows lately.
In the darkening of the day
spirits linger, not far away
in the shadow of almost-there
joy and despair
Beyond the trees, perhaps within
the tortured souls, the denizens
like bats they wait for dark of night
fearing the light
Perhaps you wonder who they be
perhaps they’re you, perhaps they’re me
within our passion, dwells the dark
a drop, a spark
of evil lurks within, we hold
good, but some are poisoned and fold,
lured by passion, fear, doubt, and hate
goodness in their souls, they negate–
regret too late
I like these. I hope you do more.
Thank you very much! 🙂
Very dark, this one, and very true to the spirit of the quote, I think.
Thank you. 🙂
🙂
Well done, once more. To follow Yeats’s words with something just as powerful is creditable indeed
Thank you very much, Derrick, for your very kind compliment!
What Derrick said.
We like to think it’s others who harbor those darker aspects, but there probably is a kernel within each of us.
Thank you, Ken. Yes, I think you’re right. I was going to say sadly, but perhaps having those darker aspects makes us more interesting and make our struggles more important.
Darkness keeps our secrets safe, and scares away the flagrant light of day. Your poem inspires me, Merril. I may have to explore your thoughts on shadows a bit more. Fascinating.
Thank you very much, Rose.
This was an interesting and reflective response to the quote giving more than Yeats’ words gave us. You seem inspired deeply by these quotes, Merril!
Thank you, Robin. Yeats does that! 🙂