Today I have been in the recording studio, recording a selection of poems and short stories for an audio book for learners of English to be published later this year. Among the material I recorded was a poem by W. H. Auden (pictured) called "Musée des Beaux Arts". Poetry should always be read aloud, so it is is always a great privilege to be able to do so and get paid for it! Some poems are naturally more challenging than others –and I got through the Kipling and Herrick without any worry; but Auden is a tricky customer. His poems are full of pictures, and move from image to image in a word, following seemingly unrhythmic patterns and trails. "Musée des Beaux Arts" is not an easy poem to understand at first, and I spent considerable time trying to get under its surface, but once I started recording it all came together..rather like a jumble of unconnected notes suddenly emerging as music. Yes, Auden knew his beans all right. I hope the listeners think so too!
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