Linking here to a great article in 2001 by Peter Steinfels at the New York Times, discussing the renewed popularity of W.H. Auden’s “September 1, 1939” after 9/11.
I knew the poem was controversial, and that it arguably could have been quoted out of context, as it references the events preceding World War II. But I had no idea how controversial. I can’t believe the famous piece was later so “loathed” by Auden himself.
Here is a link to the poem itself, at the website of Academy of American Poets:
Photo by Jessica Maxwell (U.S. Army Forces Command), September 21, 2009.
“Gen. Charles C. Campbell, U.S. Army Forces commanding general, Col. Deborah B. Grays, U.S. Army Garrison commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenny LeonGuerrero, USAG command sergeant major, render salutes to the United States flag as a bugler plays taps during the close of Patriot Day ceremonies held Sept. 11 at Fort McPherson. Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem joined the rest of the nation in honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place Sept. 11, 2001.” — Wikimedia Commons
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 