The Sun Sets On The Code of the West

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Brewster Guin gets bucked off of Social Call during the second performance of the West of the Pecos Rodeo at the Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos, Texas: photo by Edyta Blaszczyk / Odessa American / AP, 24 June 2016

An awful lot they are

These descendants of Old Hrothgar

I know them, I lived among them as a boy

And I knew their father, Old Edgethrow

As an ageing boy
Always feared everything foreign
Devoted to Baldur Benedikt von Schirach, cousin to Scylding kings

In pubs recited Roman history while affecting mechanical nazi salute

Tubercular, the Scylding king's weakling sons

The Code of the West was so much bloody nonsense

All it ever was was Old Hrothgar talking your ear off

Trying to bum five bucks steal your wife or girlfriend

It never believed a word it said

This was its innocence

Behind its silken sad uncertain rustling curtains you heard it

The music, still and notwithstanding

The hibbing of those vipern lorke that quann

You'd never want to dream of having a drink with it

A villager, donning capes mostly of dried banana leaves and covered in mud, attends a mass during the ‘Taong Putik’ or ‘mud people’ festival in an annual ritual to venerate their patron saint, John the Baptist, at Bibiclat, Aliaga township, Nueva Ecija province in northern Philippines: photo by Bullit Marquez / AP,  24 June 2016

A young woman wades into the shallow waters of the Brombach Lake near Pleinfeld, Bavaria state, Germany, as the sun sets.: photo by Daniel Karmann / EPA, 24 June 2016

A bus carries commuters as it travels over Waterloo Bridge in London, Britain: photo by Toby Melville / Reuters, 24 June 2016

Emilio Bonifacio of the Atlanta Braves, centre left, is tagged out by New York Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud, centre right, during their baseball game: photo by John Bazemore / AP, 24 June 2016

A farmer harvests wheat in a field at night, fearing shelling in daylight, in the rebel held besieged town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria: photo by Bassam Khabieh/Reuters, 24 June 2016



A farmer harvests wheat in a field at night, fearing shelling in daylight, in the rebel held besieged town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria: photo by Bassam Khabieh/Reuters, 24 June 2016

 

People pass by the office of the representation of the European Commission in Germany in Berlin: photo by John Macdougall/AFP, 24 June 2016  

Workers move tires from a warehouse after a fire broke out at an industrial zone in Karachi, Pakistan: photo by Akhtar Soomro/Reuters 24 June 2016



Workers move tires from a warehouse after a fire broke out at an industrial zone in Karachi, Pakistan: photo by Akhtar Soomro/Reuters 24 June 2016

Police officers on horseback wearing angel wings at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset: photo by Ben Birchall/PA, 24 June 2016



Police officers on horseback wearing angel wings at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm in Somerset: photo by Ben Birchall/PA, 24 June 2016

Palestinian passes through an opening in the Israeli barrier fence as he attempts to make his way to attend the third Friday prayer of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, near Bethlehem: photo by Mussa Qawasma/Reuters, 24 June 2016



Palestinian passes through an opening in the Israeli barrier fence as he attempts to make his way to attend the third Friday prayer of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, near Bethlehem: photo by Mussa Qawasma/Reuters, 24 June 2016

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland Britain: photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters, 24 June 2016



Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland Britain: photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters, 24 June 2016

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron announces his resignation after Britain voted to leave the European Union, outside Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain: photo by Phil Noble/Reuters, 24 June 2016 



Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron announces his resignation after Britain voted to leave the European Union, outside Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain: photo by Phil Noble/Reuters, 24 June 2016

Larry the Downing Street cat walks outside No 10 Downing Street in central London. Britain has voted to break out of the European Union, striking a thunderous blow against the bloc and spreading panic through world markets Friday as sterling collapsed to a 31-year low: photo by Odd Anderson/AFP. 24 June 2016



Larry the Downing Street cat walks outside No 10 Downing Street in central London. Britain has voted to break out of the European Union, striking a thunderous blow against the bloc and spreading panic through world markets Friday as sterling collapsed to a 31-year low: photo by Odd Anderson/AFP. 24 June 2016

Nigel Farage, Leader of the UK Independence Party celebrates the EU Referendum at the Leave.EU party in Milbank, London: photo by Charlie Bibby/FT, 24 June 2016 



Nigel Farage, Leader of the UK Independence Party celebrates the EU Referendum at the Leave.EU party in Milbank, London: photo by Charlie Bibby/FT, 24 June 2016

Dawn breaks behind the Houses of Parliament and the statue of Winston Churchill in Westminster, London, Britain: photo by Toby Melville/Reuters, 24 June 2016 



Dawn breaks behind the Houses of Parliament and the statue of Winston Churchill in Westminster, London, Britain: photo by Toby Melville/Reuters, 24 June 2016

 
Police officers stand guard outside the courthouse before a verdict was issued in the trial of police officer Caesar Goodson, one of six Baltimore police officers charged over the death of Freddie Gray, in Baltimore, Maryland. A judge issued a verdict of not-guilty in all accounts in the trial of Goodson.: photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA, 23 June 2016



Police officers stand guard outside the courthouse before a verdict was issued in the trial of police officer Caesar Goodson, one of six Baltimore police officers charged over the death of Freddie Gray, in Baltimore, Maryland. A judge issued a verdict of not-guilty in all accounts in the trial of Goodson.: photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA, 23 June 2016

Reins on Elmo! Costumed characters and desnudas in Times Square had to begin observing restrictions on where they could walk on Tuesday, as a new law limited them to areas painted teal: photo by Chang W. Lee/The New York Times, 21 June 2016



Reins on Elmo! Costumed characters and desnudas in Times Square had to begin observing restrictions on where they could walk on Tuesday, as a new law limited them to areas painted teal: photo by Chang W. Lee/The New York Times, 21 June 2016

A model showed spring and summer fashion looks for 2017 at the Moncler Gamme Bleu fashion show in Milan this week.: photo by Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times, 24 June 2016 



A model showed spring and summer fashion looks for 2017 at the Moncler Gamme Bleu fashion show in Milan this week.: photo by Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times, 24 June 2016

Young men play basketball at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Fights among visitors and gunfire have led the police to at times close Pier 2, where the courts sit. The closings and complaints by people living nearby have pitted the mainly black players against mainly white neighbors in well-off Brooklyn Heights.: photo by Alex Wroblewski for The New York Times, 24 June 2016



Young men play basketball at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Fights among visitors and gunfire have led the police to at times close Pier 2, where the courts sit. The closings and complaints by people living nearby have pitted the mainly black players against mainly white neighbors in well-off Brooklyn Heights.: photo by Alex Wroblewski for The New York Times, 24 June 2016

Muslim women at afternoon prayers during Ramadan in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Thursday: photo by Danish Ismail/Reuters, 23 June 2016



Muslim women at afternoon prayers during Ramadan in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Thursday: photo by Danish Ismail/Reuters, 23 June 2016

Members of the Iraq Emergency Response Brigade rest between operations in Falluja, Iraq, on Sunday. Many grim reminders of rule by Islamic State dot the city: photo by Bryan Denton for The New York Times, 19 June 2016

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Members of the Iraq Emergency Response Brigade rest between operations in Falluja, Iraq, on Sunday. Many grim reminders of rule by Islamic State dot the city: photo by Bryan Denton for The New York Times, 19 June 2016

Palestinian laborers, working with smugglers, crossed into Israel recently near the village of Ramadin in the West Bank: photo by Daniel Berehulak for The New York Times, 24 June 2016 



Palestinian laborers, working with smugglers, crossed into Israel recently near the village of Ramadin in the West Bank: photo by Daniel Berehulak for The New York Times, 24 June 2016

A man worked at a bakery in the rebel-held town of Douma, east of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, providing bread for impoverished families during Ramadan, which began June 5: photo by Sameer Al-Doumy/Agence France-Presse, 19 June 2016



A man worked at a bakery in the rebel-held town of Douma, east of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, providing bread for impoverished families during Ramadan, which began June 5: photo by Sameer Al-Doumy/Agence France-Presse, 19 June 2016

The family of Araselis Rodriguez and Nestor Daniel Reina gathered outside their home in Cumaná, Venezuela, hungry and unable to buy food as the nation’s economy collapses: photo by Meridith Kohut for The New York Times, 22 June 2016



The family of Araselis Rodriguez and Nestor Daniel Reina gathered outside their home in Cumaná, Venezuela, hungry and unable to buy food as the nation’s economy collapses: photo by Meridith Kohut for The New York Times, 22 June 2016

Turkish police officers fire tear gas to disperse people protesting a violent attack on customers at a record store in Istanbul.: photo by Ozan Kose/Agence France-Presse, 18 June 2016



Turkish police officers fire tear gas to disperse people protesting a violent attack on customers at a record store in Istanbul: photo by Ozan Kose/Agence France-Presse, 18 June 2016

Support our troops

 
Valentino Spring 2017 "War" collection: photo by Gio Staiano/Nowfashion, 24 June 2016

Valentino Spring 2017 "War" collection: photo by Gio Staiano/Nowfashion, 24 June 2016
 
Valentino Spring 2017 "War" collection: photo by Gio Staiano/Nowfashion, 24 June 2016



Valentino Spring 2017 "War" collection: photo by Gio Staiano/Nowfashion, 24 June 2016


Valentino Spring 2017 "War" collection: photo by Gio Staiano/Nowfashion, 24 June 2016

When the sun sets on the Code of the West the beasts emerge from the obscure forests of the Scylding kings

Oswald Spengler: Der Untergang des Abendlandes  (The Decline of the West), first edition cover: C.H. Beck Verlag, München, 1922 (image by  Perceval, 2005) 

Dame Helen Mirren has a strong message for drunk drinkers in @budweiser #SuperBowl commercial: Get Stonkin', Bros!: image via InStyle @InStyle, 2 February 2016

Incredible evening at #GenesisPrize2016. Incomparable #HelenMirren hosts: image via Laura Ben-David @LauraBenDavid, 23 June 2016

Incredible evening at #GenesisPrize2016. Incomparable #HelenMirren hosts: image via Laura Ben-David @LauraBenDavid, 23 June 2016

One reason the City, London’s financial district, shuddered on Friday is that it is a hub for trading in euro-denominated securities, activity that may now shift to rivals like Frankfurt and Paris: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 24 June 2016



One reason the City, London’s financial district, shuddered on Friday is that it is a hub for trading in euro-denominated securities, activity that may now shift to rivals like Frankfurt and Paris: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 24 June 2016

European leaders acknowledged that the British vote would further limit their ability to move forward with economic and political integration, a process that had all but stalled anyway. “Today marks a turning point for Europe,” Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said. “It is a turning point for the European unification process.”: photo by Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters, 24 June 2016



European leaders acknowledged that the British vote would further limit their ability to move forward with economic and political integration, a process that had all but stalled anyway. “Today marks a turning point for Europe,” Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said. “It is a turning point for the European unification process.”: photo by Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters, 24 June 2016

The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. The stunning turn of events was accompanied by a plunge in the financial markets, with the value of the British pound and stock prices plummeting.: photo by Richard Drew/Associated Press, 24 June 2016

The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday. The stunning turn of events was accompanied by a plunge in the financial markets, with the value of the British pound and stock prices plummeting.: photo by Richard Drew/Associated Press, 24 June 2016
 

Prime Minister David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the bloc, appears in front of 10 Downing Street on Friday morning to announce that he plans to step down by October, saying the country deserved a leader committed to carrying out the will of the people: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 24 January 2016



Prime Minister David Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the bloc, appears in front of 10 Downing Street on Friday morning to announce that he plans to step down by October, saying the country deserved a leader committed to carrying out the will of the people: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 24 January 2016

A referendum results party on Thursday evening at a pub in London. By Friday morning, it was clear that Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision sure to reshape the nation’s place in the world, rattle the Continent and rock political establishments throughout the West.: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 23 June 2016



A referendum results party on Thursday evening at a pub in London. By Friday morning, it was clear that Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision sure to reshape the nation’s place in the world, rattle the Continent and rock political establishments throughout the West.: photo by Andrew Testa for The New York Times, 23 June 2016


The sun rising over London on Friday. Despite opinion polls before the referendum that showed either side in a position to win, the outcome stunned much of Britain, Europe and the trans-Atlantic alliance, highlighting the power of anti-elite, populist and nationalist sentiment at a time of economic and cultural dislocation.: photo by Hannah Mckay/European Pressphoto Agency, 24 June 2016



The sun rising over London on Friday. Despite opinion polls before the referendum that showed either side in a position to win, the outcome stunned much of Britain, Europe and the trans-Atlantic alliance, highlighting the power of anti-elite, populist and nationalist sentiment at a time of economic and cultural dislocation.: photo by Hannah Mckay/European Pressphoto Agency, 24 June 2016

Hundreds of thousands people have fled the Middle East risking their lives along the way. Check @AFPphoto @afpfr: image via Armend Nimani @armend_nimani, 28 January 2016