Mythological Introduction

Mythological Introduction

“the growing similarity
between Yeats and Graves
as vatic old fakers, each
with a sacred book (Vision

and White Goddess)”
—Philip Larkin,
Letter to Anthony Thwaite
27 March 1962

Ted Hughes—lay on the grass
With his arms—held out for love
His black hair—falling down
Over his—grizzled face

See—I am the handsome Adonis
Of the moody moors—Caliban
Of the rough—Yorkshire earth
I can make you—cross-eyed, girl

Showing off—his hunky physique
Spreading his arms wide—for love
The Mytholmroyd—mud where he’d lain
Had eaten away—most of his side