Re: Poetry
I didn't cotton onto poetry before grammar school. Then, it was Lawrence and Chaucer. Hopkins, on my own. Later, I discovered Yeats, Dickinson, Stevens and others.
Betjeman and Brecht make me sceptical. The former was terribly English, in a rather twee, yet counties, way. The latter was an insincere pseudo-Communist MCP. He adored the working classes - as long as you didn't actually have to touch them. What a funny factory owner's son, with a harem. Don't worship him too much: the hangover will come.
Bigamist church cyclist Larkin is worshipped by Motion, the beach poet. What about a few translations? This high windows' poets' corner is becoming uncomfortably English-language.
Eliot wrote the "Four Quartets". Parody these as you will.
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