W.H. Auden Quotes

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood. For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Don't do me any favors... just astonish me.

The aim of writing poetry is to enable readers a little better to enjoy life or a little better to endure it.

Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.

The Ogre does what ogres can, Deeds quite impossible for Man, But one prize is beyond his reach: The Ogre cannot master speech. About a subjugated plain, Among it's desperate and slain, The Ogre stalks with hands on hips, While drivel gushes from his lips.

Clear, unscaleable ahead, Rise the mountains of instead From whose cold, cascading streams None may drink except in dreams

Soft as the earth is mankind and both need to be altered.

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh.

Evil is unspectacular and always human, And shares our bed and eats at our own table ....