Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Top ten love poems

John Stammers is a poet and creative writing teacher.

With Valentine's Day looming, he came up with a list of the top ten love poems for the Guardian.

One title on the list:
"The Love-Song of J Alfred Prufrock" by TS Eliot

This is a truly subversive poem, whose first three lines signal the arrival of literary modernism and which can be practically read as its credo. Prufrock is a miscast troubadour of the Edwardian drawing room who fails to raise his lute or his voice due to simple lack of courage. The poem is an anthem for all those who have failed through inaction, which probably includes us all at some time, and which no doubt is what provides it with its great poignancy.
Read about another love poem on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue