 'The Habit of Art' A response to Alan Bennett's play at the National Theatre, about the last sad days of W.H.Auden. The poet drinks, he stinks, he pees in sinks. The audience, superior as shrinks, Appraise a life amusingly in tatters. They do appreciate a play that flatters Their minds with chat about artistic matters — And how much more they savour nods and winks And saucy homosexual high-jinks! They go home thinking :  'Poets?
Mad
as
hatters!They drink, you know! They stink! They pee in sinks!' George Simmers |
