How does a century-old poem written in Ireland as European civil wars erupted in the aftermath of World War I still resonate in our own partisan era? That is the central question The Purple Principle asks in both Episode 14 and 15, as the classic poem, “The Second Coming”, by William Butler Yeats, turns one hundred years young. In Episode 14, our special guest is another great Irish poet, Paul Muldoon, author of 15 collections of poetry, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and Professor of Poetry at Princeton University. Muldoon speaks about the poem’s insight and longevity, the influences at work on Yeats as he wrote it, and the impact Yeats still exerts on poetry today. The center cannot hold.. The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity… Lines published one hundred years ago this month (November 1920) that still speak to us today here in the U.S., as we polarize over COVID, election results, and other issues. Tune in to learn more about the remarkable relevance and endurance of “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats with special guest, the renowned Irish poet, Paul Muldoon. Original music composed and created by Ryan Adair Rooney. For show notes and transcript, please visit our website: www.fluentknowledge.com/shows/the-purple-principle/the-second-coming-turns-100