David J Bauman

Last night I read a poem here by W. H. Auden. I wanted to read this one, but all the readings I’ve seen online seem to pale compared to this scene. Thanks to my friend David M. for pointing this out to me a few years back. I still have to see this movie.

I just learned last night that Auden wrote this poem as part of show that was to be a satire. That’s one of the glories of poetry; it can be more than just one thing, like a diamond held before different eyes in different light. As read in this movie, this poem turns the satire on its head as it becomes a declaration of love that the town wanted deny.