February 21 - Whose Birthday Today? Poem by Michael Shepherd

February 21 - Whose Birthday Today?

Rating: 2.9


If you saw the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
you'd have been moved maybe to tears
by his 'Funeral Blues';

If you were a college poetry student
the day after 9/11
you might have had your poet in residence
read his 'September 1,1939'
and had your breath taken away
by its accidental appropriateness
and the last line, which he wanted to amend,
'We must love each other, or die'

Two poems he himself didn't think quite good enough..
this is posthumous fame beyond the control
of poets;
this is what poetry can leave to the world;
this is what poetry is.

Wystan Hugh Auden would have been 100 today.

Rest In Poetry.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
james daffo 01 February 2021

i respect this day 21 february

0 0 Reply
Duncan Wyllie 21 February 2007

A mark of respect and acknowledgement for those that share their fine gifts with the rest of us, This write has alot of feeling contained Thankyou Michael Love duncan X

2 0 Reply
Not a member No 4 21 February 2007

Having only recently been introduced to Auden and specifically Sept 1 1939 as my starting point, and been very moved by it and the rest of his work, I appreciate the importance of this very fine and important tribute and reminder. jim

2 0 Reply

'would have been'? Dammit, that is why the postman returned my cake. In seriousness.... top class as ever M. This moved me. t x

1 1 Reply
Danny Reynolds 21 February 2007

That really made an impression on you Mikey, that we ourselves could so easily discard, that which to others are gems? Subjectivity begins at home. (Nice tribute, just the same.) Danny

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Michael Shepherd

Michael Shepherd

Marton, Lancashire
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