W.H. Auden...The Shield Of Achilles

[dcpoet44]

i took a look around trying to find stuff on auden as twelveone suggested based on a poem i recently wrote. it took me a quite awhile to find some kind of connection, but i did find the poem that is mentioned in the topic. but in just roaming through his stuff i did see some things that caught my eye of which led me to believe i must have left some slight characteristics of auden in the poem i wrote. when i wrote i didn't see the irony of how i used *destiny* until after i read it a couple of times. even though the piece isn't laced heavily in imagery, it seems to have a philosphical element to it, and that may be as that is something that auden himself did as he went through different situations through life. in that i see that comparison. not so much his life, but how that is working on me as well. if i may, where i work sometimes really gets under the skin because of the fact that most work the hard way, or just sit back and let the ones that are bored with their jobs take over. i think writers tend to be that way. the strange thing is that i don't like work, so i try to make it easy. does that make me lazy, or does it make efficient? anyways, twelveone more than likely has refreshed me to a poet that i long ago had read in a minor fashion, but now will make me take a bigger leap into his material. for one, he read alot of freud, and i've dabbled in that to a small degree. but since i used *achilles* to compare the average american worker. but the thing is, what will our future children have if the trend continues? i don't know about the rest of you poets, but i'd like to think that i'm not the only one that can see the abuses brought about to protect jobs in america by the blue-collar unionization creed. it brought about a lot of good, but i feel that if the leadership doesn't change, decent jobs will go elsewhere, and it won't be taken for granted. sometimes a poet has to spill the ink.

 

[twelveoone]

Auden was a socialist, as was Orwell, "socialist" as "liberal" became dirty words in America. To be replaced by Neo-con? Think about it, Neo-con?
what was it the Who was singing
"We won't get fooled again"
Think again.
But a question...
I've often wondered where the ribbons that you see on SUV's are made? Can someone tell me?

 

[BlackShanglan]

I highly recommend Auden's essay "The Virgin and the Dynamo" if you're interested in learning what he thought about poetry and what he was trying to achieve.

"The Airman's Alphabet" is a nice example of Auden at his most rebellious and innovative; "In Memory of W. B. Yeats" shows some superb control of poetic tools.

He's a gay Christian Communist. I love the man for that. What an independent thinker.

Shanglan

 

[dcpoet44]

twelveone......great input on this as i am about to head out the door to get a book or two on the man. there is A LOT i don't know about him. you've asked an interesting question about the ribbon's on SUV's. i certainly have a way of finding out as my landlord has a few of them on his truck because his son is in Iraq. wouldn't it be odd or downright strange if they were made in another country to show patriotism? i think though they may be made here in the states. but i will find that out. i do find it utterly co-incidental that i had fibers in my piece that has brought this up. i must admit though, that when i had browsed his stuff years ago, i more than likely wasn't ready to comprehend it then.....hence.....i'm sure it will have an impact on me at this standpoint....to what degree....time will tell.

blackshanglan.... thank you for your input as well. i'm definitely interested in learning more from him as a tool to further develop different spectrums within my writing. i would say that even twelveone would concur that i'm dead set in one particular movement, except for the fact, i like free-verse as it's less constrictive. i certainly didn't know that he was a Gay Christian Communist. i wholeheartedly agree with your idea of him being an independent thinker. all of us poets do strive for that. and that is what makes us standout rather than blend in the norm.

once again.....i thank the both of U for the response.

 

[My Erotic Tale]

Auden was a socialist, as was Orwell, "socialist" as "liberal" became dirty words in America. To be replaced by Neo-con? Think about it, Neo-con?
what was it the Who was singing
"We won't get fooled again"
Think again.
But a question...
I've often wondered where the ribbons that you see on SUV's are made? Can someone tell me?

innovative american sells them for 3.00 and 0ne dollar for every one sold goes to the releif fund for our soldiers, but I bet there's a millionare made in there some where. When I go to the corner store for my morning brew tomorrow I'll gander at the where abouts of their manufacturing is from. <grin> just curious too!

 

[dcpoet44]

innovative american sells them for 3.00 and 0ne dollar for every one sold goes to the releif fund for our soldiers, but I bet there's a millionare made in there some where. When I go to the corner store for my morning brew tomorrow I'll gander at the where abouts of their manufacturing is from. <grin> just curious too!

the qoute above is from My Erotic Tale in case i didn't manuever it correctly. but i'm closer to finding out about them ribbons too. a quick follow up on w.h. auden. i bought the huge collection of poems, and when i found *the unknown citizen* i quickly discovered i had confused him with T.S. Eliot once i saw that i could digest it in one read.