W. H. Auden - The Unknown Citizen

W. H. Auden - The Unknown Citizen

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be br One against whom there was no official complaint, br And all the reports on his conduct agree br That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a br saint, br For in everything he did he served the Greater Community. br Except for the War till the day he retired br He worked in a factory and never got fired, br But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc. br Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views, br For his Union reports that he paid his dues, br (Our report on his Union shows it was sound) br And our Social Psychology workers found br That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. br The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day br And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. br Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured, br And his Health-card shows he was once in a hospital but left it cured. br Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare br He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan br And had everything necessary to the Modern Man, br A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. br Our researchers into Public Opinion are content br That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; br When there was peace, he was for peace:when there was war, he went. br He was married and added five children to the population, br Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his br generation. br And our teachers report that he never interfered with their br education. br Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: br Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.br br W. H.


User: PoemHunter.com

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Uploaded: 2014-11-07

Duration: 02:08

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