6 Comments
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James's avatar

This is, as ever, both readable and insightful. I first read ‘Musée des Beaux Arts’ many, many years ago, and for a long time thought it was just about one painting in particular, not a number of them. It took listening to Frank Skinner’s poetry podcast on it for the penny to

drop. Which is worth a listen.

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The Novel Tea by Neha & Shruti's avatar

Love reading about the interplay of art, the written word, and history

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Billy5959's avatar

Thank you, a beautiful piece. This poem, and The Shield of Achilles, are two of the most profound (and chilling) poems of the 20th century.

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Lucy Seton-Watson's avatar

Yes this has to be right. And the extended meaning - totallt.

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Harry Underwood's avatar

A truly eccentric reading given that the poem describes, quite precisely, what is shown in The Fall of Icarus. But to each his own.

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Jem's avatar

I'm not sure what to say to this that isn't in the piece!

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