January 2004

Nomination: Aubade [29 November 1977. The Times Literary Supplement 23 December 1977]

A sulky fifty-six (Auden) means intimations of mortality are rather more frequent visitors to my mind than I’d like. The oblivion of death is what we all fear I think, and Larkin grabs it by the scruff of its neck and hangs it in front of you in a shivering way.

Barry Rutter