'In love with language'

 

“A poet is, before anything else, aperson who is passionately in love with language.” – W.H. Auden

 

Born in England in February of1907, Auden was a prolific writer, penning some 400 poems, including seven longpoems (two of them book-length), 400-plus essays and reviews, and a number ofplays and screenplays, several in partnership with other leading writers of thetime.  He also wrote many opera libretti and musicalcollaborations.    For Saturday’s Poem, here is Auden’s,

 

                                             TheMore Loving One

                                 Looking up atthe stars, I know quite well
                                 That,for all they care, I can go to hell,
                                 But onearth indifference is the least
                                 We haveto dread from man or beast.

                                 Howshould we like it were stars to burn
                                 With apassion for us we could not return?
                                 If equalaffection cannot be,
                                 Let themore loving one be me.

                                 Admireras I think I am
                                 Of starsthat do not give a damn,
                                 Icannot, now I see them, say
                                 I missedone terribly all day.

                                 Were allstars to disappear or die,
                                 I shouldlearn to look at an empty sky
                                And feelits total dark sublime,
                                Thoughthis might take me a little time.