W. H. Auden reading a selection of his poetry 1961

[@prof4659]

Brilliant. Such depth, care, and yet an economy of language. I wish I could have known this sage.

[@KathyParker-v9u]

My favorite poet!!

[@dracher]

So much beauty, so much intellect, so much fine language, so much love of mankind, all from a man who looked like a pile of old clothes or an unmade bed. He said of his own face that it looked like a wedding cake that had been left out in the rain. I have been inspired and moved by his poetry since childhood.

[@jimbojet8728]

I love to just listen quietly and try to imagine what it is that Auden is feeling and what he sees to cause him to write what he writes. His most popular poems are timeless and fantastic. He wrote so much though, that I have still to read. Lucky me! Thank you Whysten.

[@waynesmith6784]

Simply the greatest poet of the 20th century.

[@shakesrear7850]

Deepest thanks.

[@iktomi5]

Wow! I fell upon this chap this am! Listening to Cambridge College Choir singing Carols. He ws quoted from his Christmas Oratorio. I was deeply impressed. This is ace albeit I don't understand his words as i might a novel. Yet his rhythm & words create pictures which are interesting even fun. I'm not up fa analyzing his metaphors etc. I've heard academics speak of the deeper meaning & I'm reminded of 'fool on the Hill' The Beatles!

[@theropodia]

40 likes for the greatest songster of our century past.... Doom is the pudding we seem to savor.

[@sonampalmo3578]

I was hoping to hear at least one of my favorites: "Musee des Beaux Arts" or "In Praise of Limestone." Great poet!

[@julievanberkel3058]

I loved Night Mail. I had to learn it at school - my introduction to W H Auden.

[@muhammadakhtarmoavia9537]

Excellent.

[@michaelball3456]

the booming of stolen thunder. one of the greats. stranger and stranger. the hum, the pull, the discourse, between bird and tree, and tree and dog, and the smile of dying certainty. there is a wonderful stiff arm embrace with Auden. he pulls you in, and then shoves you into a chair by the fire, as if he may need you, for when the logs run out. we are always alone in Auden, the lovers are always leaving, and we are always holding a coat at a door, and ponder the unseen clocks that cat yawn in every direction, leaving us in mute desolation of purpose's trunk full of meaning. you don't wander in Auden, you don't learn anything, you are just changed by nibbles and long drawn out sticky lightning, that hangs like spiderwebs, all about the cramped rooms of tweed and damp. he is wonderfully obscure, behind his linear measured progression. in the same way a pit viper sets its limits of embrace, bite by bite by bite.

[@sdorr]

...only deprived-ill-educated-millenials tend to assume so...

[@ivgnes]

As I walked out one evening 5:15

[@heatherether]

Just what I was looking for. Thank you

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

Reminds me of Kenneth Williams...

[@elizabethhannan1497]

I am sure there is an audio recording read by Auden himself about a Tram journey to Pinner. Does anyone know it? I can't see it on KZbin. Thanks - Elizabeth

[@gillgibson4546]

Perhaps you're thinking of John Betjeman's 'Metroland' a poem within contains the line 'and sepia views of leafy lanes in Pinner'. Hope that helps, if so there's a 1973 documentary film written and voiced by Betjeman himself, you may want to check out.

[@stefvandertuin738]

0,75x 🙏🏻

[@MacMacPherson]

thank you

[@leahsmith2078]

To me, hearing a poem doesn’t compare to reading it.

[@shakesrear7850]

not alone

[@standauphin1592]

is every artist posh?

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

No.

[@bramsanjanssan4908]

Haha!

[@SimderZ]

Nathan Pounds how do you know he is posh?

[@standauphin1592]

So he's not posh?@@SimderZ

[@tonylawless3504]

Many of the good British ones used to be.

[@Thefisherman27]

With Anne sexton love..

[@yu-wantang5267]

gucc-i--------Wrinkledames' Husband Hades' Donne's recallediscordial Wall Fallawful! Scornedames' Owls-insidersOS! Professor TANG, yu-wan (Oxford University)

[@sanamsworld2098]

Ye to pure angrej h... 😢😢