fear not, for behold

Spookiest poem ever:
in the movie Nixon, Sam Waterston recites a poem called "The Second Coming," which was written by William Butler Yeats....
(Brrr-rrr!  You need a warm coat after you hear it -- and I don't even know what it means...!  Now that's some recitin' !  Speechify, baby...)

An online study guide at About.Com gives us this:
It has been said that the essence of great poems is their mystery, and that is certainly true of "The Second Coming."  It is a mystery, it describes a mystery, it offers distinct anad resonant images, but opens itself to infinite layers of interpretation.

Great.
Now -- am cold, scared, and confused...!

In the film, Sam Waterston plays the part of Richard Helms, Director of Central Intelligence.
Waterston's voice is distinctive -- reminds me of the actor James Stewart's voice that has almost sort of an echo of itself, as if it had two tracks, or something.

==============
Was moved to think about inspiration and trends.

One mass-murdering shooter inspires another.

Why were there riots and protests in the 60s?
People saw others doing it, and it seemed like a way to express something they themselves were feeling, too.

On the other hand, lots of people would look at -- even a peaceful protest --
a sit-in,
a walk-out,
a lie-in,
a be-in
and say, That doesn't express anything that I feel; I would not take part in that.
But for some people it does express what they feel.  And they might take part in one.

People could see a riot, and many more of them would say,
I would not take part in that.

But some would -- they would say, I totally believe in this cause, & our leaders aren't listening and I'm mad!  There, you got a riot.

And then that tiny minority in the human family who can see a mass shooting in the news, and feel inside, and think in their mind, I relate to what that guy has been through; I get it; I want to do that.

Inspiration -- and relating to something -- can come from something
very bad
or
just sort of regular
or
something good.
This time of year, we remember,
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people...."

and let it inspire us.

{Luke 2, vs. 8-10 King James version}

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