I know there are members out there interested in poetry.

I found this image of W. H. Auden's handwritten poem, which happens to be one of my favourites. Had I thought of it, I would have added this first line to the "favourites" topic.

Please, enjoy...

Nathan Hondros

Apparently, when Auden was sending poems in for publication (before he'd ever been published), he decided that his handwriting wasn't good enough and a woman teaching in the school with him copied out his poems in a more readable hand.

Her name was Bea and she was the aunt of a family friend. A ring she wore all her life became my engagement ring, which I treasure.

Since the ring has been dated to the 19 teens......it may actually have met Auden!

What a wonderful story! I think Auden is fascinating and I love the fact that his handwriting is as barely readable as mine...

...and your engagement ring. Absolutely, what a treasure.

Nathan Hondros

Nathan, thanks for sharing that poem. It's amazing how much of Auden seems fresh. That poem has a style not unlike some I've read that were written within the last year.

One of my favorite poems. Thanks for sharing this!

I really need to get our my Complete and read him again...

Thanks for posting this - great to see it. I had no idea his handwriting was as infinitesimal as my own - fab poem, too

Thanks for a poetry moment, Nathan. Auden is one of those poets whom I always wish to read more often, but then my mind gets sidetracked with other poetry, novels, etc. A topical poem for our current attitude toward avoiding the dreaded process of "offending someone" would be Auden's "The Unknown Citizen." Boy, I hope I have the title right.

Wow! How great for your engagement ring to have such history!

Just to thank you for the handwritten poem! Since I teach it to my 11th graders it's much appreciated.

This is one of my favorite poems, ever.