poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

Read more poems by W.H. Auden: W.H. Auden Poems at Poetry X.

A shilling life will give you all the facts:
How Father beat him, how he ran away,
What were the struggles of his youth, what acts
Made him the greatest figure of his day;
Of how he fought, fished, hunted, worked all night,
Though giddy, climbed new mountains; named a sea;
Some of the last researchers even write
Love made him weep his pints like you and me.

With all his honours on, he sighed for one
Who, say astonished critics, lived at home;
Did little jobs about the house with skill
And nothing else; could whistle; would sit still
Or potter round the garden; answered some
Of his long marvellous letters but kept none.

Added: 19 Aug 2001 | Last Read: 4 Sep 2026 9:13 AM | Viewed: 20110 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of Who's Who by W.H. Auden, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...