W.H. Auden

            The inspiration for the work of a poet is stimulated by their role in both society and the environment. In the case of W.H. Auden the diversity of his works represent the variation of experiences in his life. According to Professor E. Hishikawa at Kobe University, "Auden's literary life can be divided into four main phases; his fathers influence, devotion for landscapes, travels, and arrival to the United States of America." Together, all these periods in his life make up the great variety of the works that are considered to be some of the best of the century. .
             His father influenced his earliest phase of writing. He was a great physician whom Auden shared a close, affectionate relationship with. This medical, and scientific influence became the motif of his early poetic works. These poems were filled with recurrent images of disease, healing, and bodily functions. Professor Hishikawa stated that "his poem Lullaby was a direct example of this.".
             "Lay your sleeping head, my love,.
             Human on my faithless arm:.
             Time and fevers burn away.
             Individual beauty from.
             Thoughtful children, and the grave.
             Proves the child ephemeral:.
             But in my arms till break of day.
             Let the living creature lie,.
             Mortal, Guilty, but to me.
             The entirely beautiful.".
             This poem can be seen as Auden's perspective of his father's profession. In this particular case Auden writes about how these children put their trust into his father, and although sometimes they may die, to him they are still beautiful. In this specific stanza he is demonstrating that in reality sick people do indeed die, regardless of their age. .
             According to biographies.com Auden's family eventually moved to Birmingham, and it was here that he established his interest in landscapes, and thus began the second stage of his works. It is said that Auden became fascinated with urban and industrial landscapes, and created a private and imaginary world composed of limestone, and deserted mines.