I had originally commented on this post stating that “1st September 1939” can be found in “The New Oxford Book of English verse”. However, on checking I find that I am mistaken. While several of Auden’s poems do appear in “The New Oxford Book” “1st September 1939” does not. It can, however be found in “The Penguin Book of English Verse”, edited by John Hayward. Faber and Faber. 1956 edition.
The best Auden poems
W. H. Auden (1907-1973) wrote a great deal of poetry, with many of his best-loved poems being written in the 1930s. In this post, we’ve taken on the difficult task of finding the ten greatest Auden poems – difficult because, although certain poems naturally rise to the surface and proclaim their greatness, there are quite a few of those. Here’s our top ten. Are there any classic poems by Auden that we’ve left off the list? Click on the title of each poem to read it.
‘Stop all the clocks’. Also known as ‘Funeral Blues’, this poem, one of Auden’s ‘Twelve Songs’ originally published in 1936, needs no introduction, perhaps. Since it was recited in the funeral in the 1994 film Four Weddings and a Funeral, it achieved worldwide fame and brought Auden’s poetry to a whole new audience.
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