The poem is W.H. Auden's translation of the Old English poem,
The Wanderer, which Tolkien would have taught Auden. Auden studied Old English under Tolkien. I believe he said that hearing Tolkien read
Beowulf in class, one heard Gandalf speaking.
Auden was regarded during his lifetime as the greatest living English poet. There is much else that can be said of the poem, but I offer this token for now in answer to
Fordim's challenge.
EDIT: I have not read Auden's biography, but I found this passage on the Net from J.D. McClatchy, about Auden. Wouldn't it be intriguing if this referred to Tolkien? Does it,
Fordim?
Quote:
When he arrived at Oxford as an undergraduate, W. H. Auden went to see his tutor in literature, who asked the young man what he meant to do in
later life. "I am going to be a poet," Auden answered. "Ah, yes," replied
the tutor, and began a small lecture on verse exercises improving one's
prose. Auden scowled. "You don't understand at all," he interrupted. "I mean
a great poet."
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