The Second Coming: Then and Now

One of my favorite poems—and the inspiration behind our song of the same name—W.B. Yeats’ The Second Coming is a haunting reflection of a world teetering on the edge of chaos. Written in the aftermath of World War I, its resonance stretches far beyond its historical moment, speaking to the unsettling cycles of human history and the seismic shifts that redefine civilizations. It’s impossible to read Yeats today and not feel the weight of his apocalyptic vision pressing against our own rapidly changing world. The same chaos, uncertainty, and collapse feel as relevant now as they must have to Yeats a century ago.

Yeats' Vision of a World in Collapse

Yeats wrote The Second Coming in 1919, a time when the old world order was crumbling. Europe, still scarred from the devastation of the Great War, was grappling with revolution, the collapse of empires, and a growing sense that the world was slipping into an abyss. Yeats’ imagery captures this turbulence, speaking of “mere anarchy” loosed upon the world and the center that cannot hold. In his words, we hear the echoes of a civilization in decline, haunted by the sense that something monstrous is rising to take its place.

Today, it feels like we’re once again living through the very times Yeats envisioned—if not the end of an age, then certainly a major turning point. Institutions are crumbling, trust is eroding, and the once-firm foundations of society feel increasingly unstable. The falcon no longer hears the falconer. We’ve created a world where technology connects us and isolates us in equal measure, where climate change looms as a silent apocalypse, and where political polarization fractures any sense of shared reality. Yeats’ lines feel eerily prophetic: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” Sound familiar?

The Codependency of Collapse

Part of this societal collapse feels akin to a toxic, codependent relationship—one where the constant awareness of the “other”, be it political, racial, or class based, traps us in an endless cycle of validation, competition, and resentment. Social media has amplified this dynamic, creating a culture where our self-worth often feels inextricably tied to external approval. Much like in a toxic relationship, we become fixated on how we are perceived, unable to break free from the endless cycle of comparing, judging, and reacting. This codependency not only fuels division but also erodes the ability to self-reflect, to take ownership of our actions and decisions without the need for external affirmation.

The Second Coming: A Personal Lens

Our own song, The Second Coming, wrestles with these same ideas, reframing them through the lens of personal experience. It’s a metaphor for the collapse of society seen through the eyes of a failed relationship—a microcosm reflecting the macrocosm. The breakdown of trust, the disintegration of connection, and the sense of an inevitable ending in the context of two people mirror the larger collapse of the world we see around us. When Yeats writes of a “rough beast, its hour come round at last,” slouching toward Bethlehem, I think of that same inevitability in the context of human connection and societal decay.

The Opportunity Within Collapse

Yet within this collapse lies an opportunity, if we’re willing to seize it. Toxic relationships—whether between two people or within society—cannot be healed without first taking personal responsibility. We have to recognize the ways in which we perpetuate the cycle, the ways in which we’ve allowed the “rough beast” to take shape, and address them should we hope for real change - be it in our personal lives, or on a societal level. 

In both Yeats’ time and ours, there’s a sense that we’re witnessing the birth of something new, but the labor pains are violent and uncertain. Is what’s coming better? Worse? We don’t know—and maybe that’s the point. Yeats forces us to sit with the tension of the moment, to wrestle with the fear and hope that come with great upheaval.

Personal responsibility becomes the first step in shaping what comes next. Just as individuals must untangle themselves from toxic relationships by rediscovering their sense of self, so too must we untangle ourselves from the collective illusions of society. It’s not about retreating from the world but about engaging with it in a healthier, more intentional way, and choosing to take ownership of the choices that will define the nature of the “beast” slouching toward us.

Breaking Free from Collective Codependency

Breaking free from collective codependency is much like tending to a neglected garden. Imagine a plot overrun with weeds—those weeds represent the habits, fears, and dependencies we’ve allowed to take root. At first glance, the task of reclaiming the space feels overwhelming. The weeds are intertwined with the soil, competing for nutrients, choking out the potential for growth. But transformation begins with a single step: pulling one weed, planting one seed. Slowly, with care and consistency, the garden starts to change and find itself anew.

Likewise, personal responsibility begins with small, deliberate actions. It’s in choosing to step back from the noise of social media, to question our assumptions, and to reclaim the parts of ourselves we’ve outsourced to external validation. Just as a garden requires attention and patience, so too does the process of self-discovery and societal healing. Each of us has a role in planting something new—something that can one day flourish beyond the chaos.

As we stand at this crossroads, the question remains: are we merely watching the unraveling, or can we be part of shaping what comes next? Yeats may not have offered an answer, but his words remind us that every ending contains the seed of a new beginning, and that alone is reason for hope.

until next time,

-dex

thanks for taking the time to read - we know there is a lot out there competing for your attention. for the full modern folklore experience, please check out our accompanying track "the second coming" on all major streaming platforms, or download a free copy at https://modernfolkloreofficial.bandcamp.com/.