12/3/65

Well-wishing for man if not hope or faith or love.
Stevens has this, as does Thomas, Lowell,Auden, Rilke,
I'm not so sure about Eliot. I think Eliot lacks this;
I'm fairly sure.His images are ironic, but the poetry
does not forgive. Poetry must forgive, if not
some other people, at least the poet writing.

Another comment on technique. The essential
germ of the poem must be capable, in the poet's
eye, of expansion, even to the point of sacrificing
a previous, dearly loved image.