W.H. Auden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 29, 2010

Our researchers into Public Opinion are content
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;
When there was peace he was for peace; when there was war he went.
He was married and added five children to the population,
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation,
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education.
Was he free? Was he Happy? The question is absurd:
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

- W.H. Auden
From the poem The Unknown Citizen
 

The renowned 20th century poet W.H. Auden died on this day in 1973. Born Wystan Hugh Auden in York, England, he immigrated to the United States in 1939 and became an American citizen in 1946. He was found dead at the age of 66 in his hotel room in Vienna. Austria on September 29, 1973 after having given a poetry reading at the Palais Palffy.

To listen to a reading of The Unknown Citizen, click the following link.
http://www.videosurf.com/video/w-h-auden-the-unknown-citizen-59040576


LANGUAGE CORNER

What is the correct usage of the words “immigrate” and “emigrate”? The way to remember is that you immigrate to a destination:

My grandfather immigrated to Canada in search of a better life.

Emigrate is used in relation to the point of departure. It is used to describe when you leave a place. The way to remember is that you emigrate from a destination:

They emigrated from Germany when the Nazis came to power.

So, it’s immigrate to and emigrate from.

Well now, what about the word “migrate”? A migrant lacks permanent settlement and stays somewhere temporarily. “Immigrate” and “emigrate” imply a more permanent move.


MICHAELMAS

September 29th is known as Michaelmas in the Western Christian calendar. It is the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. In various academic institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Michaelmas is used as the name of the first term of the academic year, which begins at this time.


SPORTS

Baseball

The New York Yankees romped to a 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays last night at the dome. The Yanks clinched a playoff berh (ho hum) and the Boston Red Sox are eliminated.

Tonight the Blue Jays honour manager Cito Gason. I will be there.

- Joanne