J. BETJEMAN EN

 Behind the laughter are hidden uncomfortable sometimes painful truths

The strength of poetry lies in the ability of a word or verse to break through the conscious into the unconscious. 

- A brief dispute between sounds, meaning, contexts, jokes and finally depth. 

- A cognitive challenge at the end of which you ask yourself: “Did I get it, did it come to me??”

John Betjeman 1906-1984

Oh would I could subdue the flesh

Which sadly troubles me! 

And then perhaps could view the flesh

As though I never knew the flesh

And merry misery.

To see the golden hiking girl

With wind about her hair, 

The tennis-playing, biking girl, 

The wholly-to-my-liking girl, 

To see and not to care.

…

… Oh whip the dogs away my Lord, 

They make me ill with lust.

Bend bare knees down to pray, my Lord, 

Teach sulky lips to say, my Lord, 

That flaxen hair is dust.

(from Senex)

close examination:

J. Betjeman

The nervous laughter that characterized him in reality hid an enormous insecurity. The ability to disseminate poetry through the television medium allowed him to achieve some popularity. In this case his laughter was not only welcome, but also became a trait of his character. In Betjeman's poetry it can be said that irony re-codes the truth and makes the truth more accessible.