Auden's face
You are rigid in your punctuality,
either side of which your face has collapsed.
A face designed for tears to run-down,
a shattered cliff, straining from the slopes
of an old jacket.
Your smile, a two handed job,
Is lifted like a sack, emptied of all but words.
And every line a scar, etched in limestone,
by sentiment hauled through a glacial expression.
either side of which your face has collapsed.
A face designed for tears to run-down,
a shattered cliff, straining from the slopes
of an old jacket.
Your smile, a two handed job,
Is lifted like a sack, emptied of all but words.
And every line a scar, etched in limestone,
by sentiment hauled through a glacial expression.
Last edited by Minstrel on Sat May 05, 2007 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
- camus
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Indeed a fine sculpture.
There is a poet (I can't recall) who wrote a series of poems called facial expressions this one would do the collection justice.
One niggle, if I have to find one, would be:
"a two handed job" seems a little playful in comparison to the rest of the poem, it is a comical image, perhaps it is required? not sure.
Good stuff.
There is a poet (I can't recall) who wrote a series of poems called facial expressions this one would do the collection justice.
One niggle, if I have to find one, would be:
"a two handed job" seems a little playful in comparison to the rest of the poem, it is a comical image, perhaps it is required? not sure.
Good stuff.
Barrie/ Kris
Thanks.
You're right Barry, I watched the programme too and have to admit to previously not understanding a lot of Audens poems. However, after hearing him read his own work, emphasis in all the relevant places and such, found him a lot more accesible. An endearing character.
Cheers.
Thanks.
Are you coming at this from a Gilf angle?......No, I can see what you mean."a two handed job" seems a little playful in comparison to the rest of the poem, it is a comical image.
I thought so. Obviously the sack metaphor wouldn't work without somehow showing it being lifted two handed but wanted to lighten the tone a bit too. I thought it sort of Audenish to do so.perhaps it is required?
You're right Barry, I watched the programme too and have to admit to previously not understanding a lot of Audens poems. However, after hearing him read his own work, emphasis in all the relevant places and such, found him a lot more accesible. An endearing character.
Cheers.
Gilf, I thought, there's an expression I don't know. I must google that.
Good grief. (Don't look Kim!)
Very very good though. I didn't see that programme, although I did know that it was on (which must be nearly as good), and I'm quite sorry now. Did you see this? http://books.guardian.co.uk/poetry/feat ... 11,00.html Quite interesting, I thought.
Not sure about the first verse, purely in the detail of "your punctuality" - his nose? I don't quite get the reference, but it's a superb description of the overall look. Auden, if anybody, can be described as looking like a wrinkled retainer.
I love the last verse.
Nice work Minst.
Cheers
David
Good grief. (Don't look Kim!)
Very very good though. I didn't see that programme, although I did know that it was on (which must be nearly as good), and I'm quite sorry now. Did you see this? http://books.guardian.co.uk/poetry/feat ... 11,00.html Quite interesting, I thought.
Not sure about the first verse, purely in the detail of "your punctuality" - his nose? I don't quite get the reference, but it's a superb description of the overall look. Auden, if anybody, can be described as looking like a wrinkled retainer.
I love the last verse.
Nice work Minst.
Cheers
David
Thanks Pseud/ David and Kris(for your chivalry)
Good to have you about again Caleb.
I reckon Lowry could have done a good portrait.
Thanks for the link, interesting that.
Good to have you about again Caleb.
Could be his nose, I suppose. Apparently he was untidy in everything other than punctuality, which I thought of as a rigid pole running through his centre, where his nose is, yes.Not sure about the first verse, purely in the detail of "your punctuality" -his nose?
I reckon Lowry could have done a good portrait.
Thanks for the link, interesting that.
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Minst,
Hope you don't mind but I've added this fine short poem to the page about the W H Auden Centenary Celebration:
http://poetsgraves.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4950
I've actually sold some advertising space to Christ Church, Oxford who are hosting the event and, as part of the deal, I said I'd bung in a freebie on the forum. Consequently some of the good folk of Oxford Uni may read your poem!
Cheers
Cam
PS you missed another apostrophe - ha ha
Hope you don't mind but I've added this fine short poem to the page about the W H Auden Centenary Celebration:
http://poetsgraves.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4950
I've actually sold some advertising space to Christ Church, Oxford who are hosting the event and, as part of the deal, I said I'd bung in a freebie on the forum. Consequently some of the good folk of Oxford Uni may read your poem!
Cheers
Cam
PS you missed another apostrophe - ha ha
I'm looking at at the creased weathered photo as I write this ...a shattered cliff, straining from the slopes
of an old jacket.
And I honestly believe...Your smile, a two handed job,
Is lifted like a sack, emptied of all but words.
... it could not have been said better!And every line a scar, etched in limestone,
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Minstrel, you live up to your name. This one sings.A face designed for tears to run-down,
a shattered cliff, straining from the slopes
of an old jacket.
Quite sublime--a truthful look what the years can do.
**********
Good grief. (Don't look Kim!)
Gosh, I leave for a few weeks and this is what becomes of me! The virgin queen!No Kim.
Don't look.
FYI, I figured it out :wink
So you gentlemen like those older women, huh? I wonder what Helen would think...?
Tis nice to get a feature on me birthday (they say 40 is the new 30).
Cheers guys.
I reckon Barrie and A.S are busy accumulating a mass of new material with which they will bombard us under a pretence of inspiration.
Cheers guys.
I reckon Barrie and A.S are busy accumulating a mass of new material with which they will bombard us under a pretence of inspiration.