First of all, I have to confess, I love Auden but disliked Four Weddings and a Funeral. Until tonight I thought this was an autobiographical poem, not a song piece written for a larger work.
I love all the words. I love the heart and passion of this poem which is so integrally Auden. And it seems so essential that it is he being mourned, not she.
Again, the truth we have to face: the sentiment Auden expresses here is so lovely and profound, how can it be dismissed out of hand?
It can’t. We have to acknowledge that this is a heartbreaking poem of irrevocable love and loss.
I know plenty of straight guys who could learn a few things from Auden.
Normally this is the point in my writing where I would head for a wrap up–state an opinion, back it up with something and then conclusion–voila!
But I won’t today.
Today I just want to say out loud how lovely this anthem of love and grief is. It means something to me–floats in my geriatric repository of words lovely in their truth.
How about you?
What do you think of this complex genius? His body of work and life? And love? He says some amazing things about love…
Carrying Light 