Text 108

IN TIME OF

THE 'BREAKING OF NATIONS'

Only a man harrowing clods

In a slow silent walk

With an old horse that stumbles and nods

Half asleep as they walk.

Only thin smoke without flame

From the heaps of couch-grass;

Yet this will go onward the same

Though Dynasties pass.

Yonder a maid and her wight

Come whispering by:

War's annals will cloud into night

Ere their story die.

Yet in very many cases love is desolate. In fact, it is the impression one gets reading most of the love poetry; it appears to be predominantly disconsolate. Perhaps, it is but an impression. Nevertheless, poets have bemoaned love's labour lost not unsuccessfully. Others had an essentially tragic understanding of the world. Great love poems sometimes were born under dangerous and threatening circumstances. John Cornford's poem written in Spain is one such example. When in Spain, the 20-year-old poet wrote several 'serious' poems dealing with his political background and frontline experiences. But his most tender lines were kindled by love.

Cornford came to Spain from Cambridge. More poets were involved in the Spanish war. Those were the Oxfordians: Wystan Auden, Steven Spender (1909—1995), Cecil Day Lewis (1904—1972), and Louis MacNiece (1907—1963). Actually all of them wrote good poetry, love poetry included.

The present writer is partial to poems written by Louis MacNiece: they seem so congenial. In his life, MacNiece the poet was also a journalist, and a translator. He was born in Belfast into a family of an Anglican bishop, received a degree in philosophy, and taught at university. It has been said of him that he was a member of no poetic school. Though associated with the Oxford poets early in his career, he later developed his own independent style. With his classical background, an Irish temperament, and a very supple technique, he has produced some of the finest, though a bit sorrowful, love-poetry of the age.