POETRY FOR SUPPER by R. S. Thomas “Listen, now, verse should be as natural [AS the small tuber that feeds o muck ‘And grows slowly from obtuse soil To the white flower of immortal beauty. “Natural, hell! What was it Chaucer Said once about the long toll ‘That goes Tike blood to the poems making? Leave it to nature and the verse sprawls, Limp as bind\weed, if it break at all Life's iron crust. Man, you must sweat ‘And rhyme your guts taut, if you'd build Your vere a ladder.” “You speak as though No sunlight ever surprised the mind Groping on its cloudy path.” “Sunlights a thing that needs a window Before it enter a dark room. ‘Windows don’t happen.” So two old poets, Hunched at their beer in the low haze (Of an inn parlour, while the tek ran NNoisly by them, glib with prose. "Posey fr Super” fom Petry for Seppe by RS. Toman, Pb by ape Har avd Us. Reptaed Oy permision of Grand Pblihngtinte, DISCUSSION 1 In “Nearing Again the Legendary Isle” does the poet seem to think that itis an improvement or 3 os thatthe legendary tempreses are no longer secuctive” Discuss, 2. In "The Unexploded Bomb” why do X, and ¥. consider themieves not ‘seimertal ideals” but “els? 3. In "The Room,” what actual pr ase does the isolated room serve the ‘monarch? 44 In Louis MacNeice’s “Autbiog Shy" what are the "back dreams” that change the ie ofthe child? 5. "Prayer Before Binh” presents a view of the contemporary world that Is mot ver reassuring, Ave the dangers ‘envisioned in the poem real or imag rary? Discuss In “The Taxis” what of who are the Invisible presences with the txi- rider! 7. Why. is Mariel Sparks poem, rultless Fable,” called a fable? 8. In RS, Thomas’ “Poetry tor Sup- et” explain the meaning ofthe one ost who says: "Windows don't happen” VARIATIONS ON ANMIETY / 661