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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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