The poetry of W.H.AudenDate: Sep 1, 2009 W.H.Auden Category: Writing and Poetry I receive a daily feed from "Writer's Almanac." This appears in today's offerings.W.H. Auden (books by this author) wrote a famous poem about this day, called "September 1, 1939." It beginsI sit in one of the divesOn Fifty-second StreetUncertain and afraidAs the clever hopes expireOf a low dishonest decade:Waves of anger and fearCirculate over the bright And darkened lands of the earth,Obsessing our private lives;The unmentionable odor of deathOffends the September night....We must love one another or die.Auden also wrote "A Hymn to St. Cecelia," the muse of artists. In it he appeals to her: "Blessed Cecelia, appear in vision to all musicians...appear and inspire. Translated daughter come down and startle composing mortals with immortal fire..." and later in the same poem he notices "...O dear white children casual as birds..." Not a racial reference, but a reference to their purity and innocence. I hope you'll make a date to read more of Auden's poetry...They are goooooglish and also at: http://www.audensociety.org