💬 Since I made a New Years post about Auden’s poem Under Which Lyre, I’d be remiss not to mention a different poem of his, New Year Letter, on this day as well. Here is the opening:
Under the familiar weight Of winter, conscience and the State, In loose formations of good cheer, Love, language, loneliness and fear, Towards the habits of next year, Along the streets the people flow, Singing or sighing as they go: Exalte, piano, or in doubt, All our reflections turn about A common meditative norm, Retrenchment, Sacrifice, Reform.