In January a group of Bruton readers will present a staged reading of W. H. Auden's poem For the Time Being. Auden called the poem "A Christmas Oratorio," and it covers the seasons from Advent through Christmas to Epiphany. It is long, so we will read the poem in three parts beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Lewis Hall on successive Thursday nights January 5, 12, and 19. Each section is subdivided into three sections:
Part I: Advent, The Annunciation, and The Temptation of St. Joseph
Part II: The Summons, The Vision of the Shepherds, and At the Manger
Part III: The Meditation of Simeon, The Massacre of the Innocents, and The Flight into Egypt
The poem was written in 1942 and reflects Auden's reflections on the time, his return to faith, the Fall of Man, the Incarnation, and other matters that we may or may not discover in the reading. We will provide a brief introduction to the poem each evening, read the part, and take time for discussion afterward. Come enjoy this sometimes meditative, sometimes irreverent, but always provocative and rewarding poem by one of the great poets of the 20th century.
