U.A. Fanthorpe was a popular and successful British poet who died in 2009. She had a varied career before first publishing in her late 40s. Her work is noted for its sharp sense of humor. When writing about a poem, you need to demonstrate a response. This does not mean that you must have soppy feelings, or even like what you have read. 'You will be hearing from us shortly' can almost be guaranteed to provoke a response. Read the poem answer the questions. You feel adequate to the demands of this position? What qualities do you feel you Personally have to... Show more

U.A. Fanthorpe was a popular and successful British poet who died in 2009. She had a varied career before first publishing in her late 40s. Her work is noted for its sharp sense of humor.

When writing about a poem, you need to demonstrate a response. This does not mean that you must have soppy feelings, or even like what you have read. 'You will be hearing from us shortly' can almost be guaranteed to provoke a response.

Read the poem answer the questions.

You feel adequate to the demands of this position?
What qualities do you feel you
Personally have to offer?
                                                                          Ah
Let us consider your application form.
Your qualifications, though impressive, are
Not, we must admit, precisely what
We had in mind. Would you care
To defend their relevance?
                                                                          Indeed
Now your age. Perhaps you feel able
To make your own comment about that,
Too? We are conscious ourselves
Of the need for a candidate with precisely
The right degree of immaturity.
                                                                          So glad we agree
And now a delicate matter: your looks.
You do appreciate this work involves
Contact with the actual public? Might they,
Perhaps, find your appearance
Disturbing?
                                                                          Quite so
And your accent. That is the way
You have always spoken, is it? What
Of your education? Were
You educated? We mean, of course,
Where were you educated?
                                              And how
Much of a handicap is that to you.
Would you say?
                        Married, children,
We see. The usual dubious
Desire to perpetuate what had better
Not have happened at all. We do not
Ask what domestic disasters shimmer
Behind that vaguely unsuitable address.
And you were born—?
Yes. Pity.
So glad we agree.
- U. A. Fanthorpe

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