Born On This Day (in 1907): Wystan Hugh Auden

I like poetry. I read poetry magazines. I write doggerel because it's fun and keeps my brain from getting any flabbier. Today, according to my calendar, is the birthday of W.H. Auden. Auden is one of my favorite poets, his work is layered but still direct and free of pretentious obfuscation. Unlike the phrase I just used. Sorry.

The Auden poems that most people are familiar with are Funeral Blues and September 1, 1939. For your reading pleasure, I would like to point you toward my favorite, Law Like Love. In addition, Random House has made available an MP3 of Mr. Auden reading Law Like Love. Thank you Randon House!

I know we're all readers, and some of us are writers. What authors connect with you on a visceral level? Is there someone you read because they make you think and you like their writing?