September 20, 2026
Athens, GR 14 C
Expand search form
Blog

Ruth Leon recommends… Woods – W. H. Auden: An Optical Poem

Ruth Leon recommends… Woods – W. H. Auden: An Optical Poem

W. H. Auden

Click here to watch

“The trees encountered on a country stroll / Reveal a lot about a country’s soul.”

On February 23, 1956, W.H. Auden  delivered a poetry reading at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Here, the British-American poet recites “Woods,” his ode to “sylvan nature” and plea for conservation in an era of rapid deforestation.

This optical poem illustrates Auden’s recitation with artworks from The Met’s collection juxtaposed with footage of wildlife in Kingston, New York. The event, originally recorded on reel-to-reel audio tape, was digitized in 2020.

Read more

The post Ruth Leon recommends… Woods – W. H. Auden: An Optical Poem appeared first on Slippedisc.

Previous Article

Kennedy Center symphony audience boos JD Vance and wife

Next Article

Tried a Dance with the Devil?

You might be interested in …

Who is the Bird of Paradise?

Who is the Bird of Paradise?

Described as a musical comedy by its composer, Franz Lehár’s last operetta has more in common with Puccini’s great operas than classic American musicals, as demonstrated by its premiere amid great fanfare at the Staatsoper […]

End of term for US music director

End of term for US music director

Hartford Symphony Orchestra and music director Carolyn Kuan will part ways in the spring of 2027, after a 16-year engagement. From the local statement: Kuan initially had a three-year contract to lead the Hartford Symphony […]