[Ttha-potm] All things fall apart

[WILLIAM NEEDHAM]

Carolyn, 

I am very, very intrigued by your posting. But I shall have to go back through previous ones because I think we  may be veering. Let me first go back to my own posting before my machine packed in (its OK now by the way):

“ I take it to be a serious satire/ travesty: the persona is replacing an historical figure, and re-enacting the Crucifixion in his own terms....”

Let me stress “ in his own terms.” In contrast to Jesus, the submissive sacrifice (L.'victima'),  who calls out in the darkness 'My God, my God, why have you deserted me?' (Matt.27:45), Hardy's persona is, while yet living, bathing in the kindly light of the stars. The poet has a field day with ironies that are at the expense of the faithful orthodox. I have to say splitting the phrase '... so hard/Bent..' and continuing '...on us' are absolute masterstrokes. The 'gaze' isn't adamantine hard but earnest in instinctively responding to it's heart's desire ('bent'). Palpable hits, no denying.  

But why does Hardy need to ride on the back of one creed in order to promulgate another? I know that's the way with religions, but I expected better from him.  And why does he have to filch so - phrases,metaphors, not just from the scriptures but even from his earlier self? 

Sun's coming out tomorrow. 
Keep smiling.
Bill

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