By Winnie Deng

Moderator: Good evening everyone, extinguished guest speakers, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to another round of Freeverse. I am your host, Tracy Bately and tonight, we have been granted the company with 2 extinguished guests both excelling highly in literature. It is with tremendous pleasure that I introduce to you, Sam Patterson, long time professor of University of Technology, Sydney, as well as spokesperson for the Young Writers Association. Also on our panel tonight, is Ruth Delany, author of the highly acclaimed ‘Real Life’ series. As many of our poetry-attuned audiences will know, the human race is never short of highly talented poets to now and again pop up with a new little masterpiece written about humanity. As is the case, humanity is likely never to run out of poetry on a little universally accepted notion called love. Tonight, our experts have united to discuss ‘Love Poetry through the Ages’, and what we regard as some of the best love poems written yet. First up, Ruth; what do you regard as the ultimate love poem?

Sam: Thankyou Tracy. There is no doubt that much too many exceptional poems have been written in the past. No doubt Shakespeare’s love sonnets would rank highly. But many more love poems have seen the light of day in the last century. A particular example of a poem that I personally adore, regarded as the greatest love poem written in the 20th century, is Wystan Hugn Auden’s ‘Lullaby’. This poem contrasts the darkness of a society collapsing into fascism and war at the time but ultimately it manages to give the sense that none of that will affect those blessed by love. The poem itself is quite long, structured into 4 stanzas of 10 lines with no regular rhythm and virtually no rhyming meter. The choice of wording and punctuation however, allows the reader to read the poem slowly, and absorb in what Auden describes so meticulously. The poem is true to its title, read and felt almost like a ‘Lullaby’ as Auden woos his lover to rest. Language is very much emotional, as Auden carefully describes their love as so detached from the wasteful, decaying outside world, that their love is almost sacred. In writing this poem, Auden comforts his lover, that for all the fascism and wastelands in the outside world, the power of love outlives that, and he obviously cherishes their relationship very much.

Ruth: It is indeed an excellent poem and correct me if I’m wrong, but I think all of us would be extremely flattered if we were the recipients of that poem. But anyway. I’m not disagreeing that Auden has not done a fantastic job in conveying his feelings, but I don’t think the idea that his poem is worthy of the title of the greatest love poem of the 20th century. The idea of juxtaposing a notion so close to the heart with an idea so dark such as the fascism & decay of a brutalised society at that time; Its almost as if, Auden didn’t intend to fully articulate his emotions, but he also wanted to presents his own personal resentment of the oppressed state of society. In my opinion, this doesn’t go well together. By cramming his cynicism of something dark into a love poem defeats largely the poem’s sentimental value.

Sam: But the thing is, he doesn’t ‘cram’ his opinions into the poem. His descriptions maybe dark and moody, but that determines the context of the poem, and he emphasizes that this is what his love has outlived despite the circumstances. The thing that draws me most to this poem is his intricacy in developing an image of his own world. The refuge in which love has built for him and how he contrasts that with supernatural notions.

Moderator: There seems to be a conflict of opinions. Moving on. Ruth, what type of poem appeals most to you?

Ruth: ‘‘Rondeau’ by Leigh Hunt is a spectacular example of one of the best inventions from poetic experimentations of the Romantics period. The title simply specifies the type of poem it is. It is as simple as it sounds. The poem only consists of 8 lines and yet it transforms a small yet poignant memory into such a large sentiment through this extraordinarily short & simple, but sweet poem, one that makes a direct appeal to our own previous experiences. The event that stimulated this poem from Hunt is basic. Jenny kissed him. No, actually she jumped from the chair she sat in, and kissed him. The enthusiasm with which Jenny goes about giving the kiss and the way Hunt delivers his poem gives almost a sense of enviable pleasure, in that we all would wish we could be greeted in such a fervent & wanted manner. The poem could also be regarded as a testament to all the little things and pleasant memories we collect as we pass through our life which eventually gets pushed to the back of our minds, mouldy and forgotten, and yet, here is Hunt recollecting an incident that happened possibly decades back but which he still holds so dearly to the heart. There’s a sense of sympathy that he grabs from the audience as he explains his loss of his health and wealth, but at the end of it all, it is the memory of being loved that keeps him alive and we as an audience commemorate that with him.

Sam: Yes, I absolutely agree that ‘Rondeau’ is truly a remarkably moving poem, but perhaps I just don’t see enough romantic aspects of typical love poems in it. Hunt remarks on the joy of greeting Jenny with the same enthusiasm as she greets him, but it seems the poem lacks integral components which gives audiences the idea that love truly exists there. The subject of the poem tells of Hunt’s nostalgia as he reminisces of the past, but he does not clarify for us of the extent to which he loves as most poems do. Essentially, this poem is written in narrative rather than describing the emotions of someone madly in love. Hunt merely pays tribute to a dear memory. The poem is lovely, and incredibly poignant, but it does not evoke the sense of passion that Auden’s ‘Lullaby’ offers. Moreover, unlike ‘Lullaby’, ‘Rondeau’ doesn’t address a particular person. The ‘Jenny’ in this poem is in actual fact Jenny Welsh Carlyle, later the wife of Thomas Carlyle, and the poem basically celebrates a warm friendship between her and Hunt. In comparison to ‘Lullaby’, the latter is written in 2nd person so naturally it is much more intimate.

Ruth: But regardless of the context of the poem or the poem’s autobiographical origin, ‘Rondeau’ is an effective love poem. It is very simplistic, without being weighed down by rigid images but it achieves it purpose. When people think of Leigh Hunt, he would be remembered as an exceptional poet of the 18th century, an important critic who first championed the Romantic poets, as well as ‘the one who got kissed by Jenny’.

Moderator: Indeed, and perhaps even he himself would be pleased to receive that title. Unfortunately the time has come for us to conclude Freeverse for tonight. What an excellent round. We hope you all have enjoyed Love Poetry through the Ages as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time, goodnight.