Category Archives: auden

W.H. Auden, “First Things First”

With thanks to Deandra Lieberman First Things First (from The Poetic Quotidian) W.H. Auden Woken, I lay in the arms of my own warmth and listened To a storm enjoying its storminess in the winter dark Till my ear, as it can when half-asleep or half-sober, Set to work to unscramble that interjectory uproar, Construing …

September 17, 2011 – 1:30 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Comments (16)

W.H. Auden, “The Fall of Rome”

The Fall of Rome (from poets.org) W.H. Auden The piers are pummelled by the waves; In a lonely field the rain Lashes an abandoned train; Outlaws fill the mountain caves. Fantastic grow the evening gowns; Agents of the Fisc pursue Absconding tax-defaulters through The sewers of provincial towns. Private rites of magic send The temple …

December 11, 2010 – 11:54 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Comments (0)

Eros and Violence: On Auden’s "Jumbled in the common box…"

“Jumbled in the common box…” W.H. Auden Jumbled in the common box Of their dark stupidity, Orchid, swan, and Caesar lie; Time that tires of everyone Has corroded all the locks, Thrown away the key for fun. In its cleft the torrent mocks Prophets who in days gone by Made a profit on each cry, …

April 30, 2008 – 1:18 am | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Is It Possible To Insist On A More Thoughtful Politics?

What is below are merely notes. I have a few ideas and this is a groping for a quick and dirty solution to the question. I am more than willing to take all of this back and advance something more subtle later. Certainty, fidelity On the stroke of midnight pass Like vibrations of a bell, …

November 27, 2007 – 4:19 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry, politics | Comments (6)

The Distance of Love: On Auden’s "Are You There?"

Originially published 2006-06-07. Are You There? W.H. Auden Each lover has some theory of his own About the difference between the ache Of being with his love, and being alone: Why what, when dreaming, is dear flesh and bone That really stirs the senses, when awake, Appears a simulacrum of his own. Narcissus disbelieves in …

May 31, 2007 – 3:04 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged , | Comments (0)

A Thought on Auden’s “The More Loving One”

The More Loving One W.H. Auden Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we …

May 31, 2007 – 2:50 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Tyrannical Ambition: On Auden’s "Epitaph On A Tyrant"

Originally composed and published 2005-12-23. Epitaph On A Tyrant W.H. Auden Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after, And the poetry he invented was easy to understand; He knew human folly like the back of his hand, And was greatly interested in armies and fleets; When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter, …

May 31, 2007 – 2:44 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged , | Comments (7)

Either Wisdom, or "Love:" "Ganymede," by W.H. Auden

Ganymede W.H. Auden He looked in all His wisdom from the throne Down on that humble boy who kept the sheep, And sent a dove; the dove returned alone: Youth liked the music, but soon fell asleep. But He had planned such future for the youth: Surely, His duty now was to compel. For later …

January 20, 2007 – 6:19 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged | Comments (1)

Musee des Beaux Arts

First published 7.13.03 at another blog of mine. Musee des Beaux Arts W.H. Auden About suffering they were never wrong, The Old Masters: how well they understood Its human position; how it takes place While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along; How when the aged are reverently, passionately …

August 7, 2006 – 11:05 pm | By ashok | Posted in auden, poetry | Tagged , | Comments (2)