Tag Archives: Dylan Thomas

“Never write from your head; write from your cock.” — Wystan Hugh Auden

Posted on February 21, 2026 by sheila

W.H. Auden was born on this day in York, England, 1907. I first encountered Auden in my “Humanities” class, senior year in high school. I got a lot out of that class, and I remember we analyzed Auden’s famous most-anthologized … Continue reading →

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“Out of the inevitable conflict of images – … the womb of war – I try to make that momentary peace which is a poem.” — poet Dylan Thomas

Posted on October 27, 2025 by sheila

“[My] poems, with all their crudities, doubts and confusions, are written for the love of Man and in praise of God, and I’d be a damn fool if they weren’t.” – Dylan Thomas, 1952 Dylan Thomas was born on this … Continue reading →

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“[At Swim-Two-Birds is] just the book to give to your sister, if she is a dirty, boozey girl.” – Dylan Thomas on Flann O’Brien’s masterpiece

Posted on October 5, 2025 by sheila

When a man sleeps, he is steeped and lost in a limp toneless happiness: awake he is restless, tortured by his body and the illusion of existence. Why have men spent the centuries seeking to overcome the awakened body? Put … Continue reading →

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“My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.” — WWI poet Wilfred Owen

Posted on March 18, 2021 by sheila

Wilfred Owen, one of the best “war poets” of World War I, was born on this day in 1893. He was killed in battle in 1918, just seven days before the Armistice. He was 25 years old. His poetry was … Continue reading →

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November 2020 Viewing Diary

Posted on December 8, 2020 by sheila

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993; d. Steven Zaillian) Popped this fave in because I was still revved up by Queen’s Gambit … I love this movie so much. Makes me cry every time. Supernatural, Season 15, episode 17 “Unity” (2020; … Continue reading →

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Review: Last Call (2020)

Posted on November 25, 2020 by sheila

Rhys Ifans plays Dylan Thomas in his final hours in Last Call. I reviewed for Ebert.

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The Books: The Redress of Poetry ‘Dylan the Durable? On Dylan Thomas,’ by Seamus Heaney

Posted on January 20, 2015 by sheila

On the essays shelf (yes, there are still more books to excerpt in my vast library. I can’t seem to stop this excerpts-from-my-library project. I started it in 2006!) NEXT BOOK: Seamus Heaney’s The Redress of Poetry. Dylan Thomas was … Continue reading →

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Today in history, February 21, 1907

Posted on February 21, 2010 by sheila

W.H. Auden was born in York, England. Two pieces of advice for writers from Mr. Auden: To keep his errors down to a minimum, the internal Censor to whom a poet submits his work in progress should be a Censorate. … Continue reading →

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“I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies, I think that’s the record . . .” — Dylan Thomas’ last words

Posted on April 21, 2009 by sheila

A famous place.

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National Poetry Month: W.H. Auden

Posted on April 1, 2008 by sheila

April is National Poetry Month. I’ll lead off here with my favorite poem, one I come back to again and again and again …At times, it’s been a life raft. I’m sad right now. I’m sad about so many things. … Continue reading →

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