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Comment 8 of 8, added on November 20th, 2009 at 7:25 AM.
Myfanwy
I wonder if I came to this poem prior to the David Essex version. Reading the poem now suggests I didn't. I wondered for year if a was a lesbian, schoolgirl crush thing, but reading the poem I see it is from the perspective of a husband, or is it? Now I read that Myfanwy was Betjeman's nanny. All plausible. The beautiful thing is that the poem is open to interpretation. Tony Griffin's observation about the "fortunate bicycle" is a a bit gross but is a sure observation. The Essex music fits the words and the mood perfectly. And the capture of privilege and a lost culture, as Tony points out, rings true. The First World War ended all that.
Cheers
Ian from Australia
Comment 7 of 8, added on November 14th, 2009 at 4:23 AM.
poem-Myfannwy
Had not known poem before hearing it sung by David Essex.Just one of those life changing pieces of prose that you can never forget. I wore a navy gymslip to school. Would love to talk to anyone who fels the same.
PAULINE MACAULEY from Australia
Comment 6 of 8, added on October 9th, 2008 at 5:18 AM.
I too came to this poem via the David Essex song, but now I love both. It always bring tears to my eyes, tears of nostalgia I suppose, particularly towards the end. The Liberty lampshade shining at teatime means it must be autumn or winter, which for me conjures a perfect picture of the cosy house, fireside, tea and cake...
I had to look up Kinderbank but apparently it's a sort of bench seat, presumably for children?
Michael Rush from United Kingdom
Comment 5 of 8, added on April 2nd, 2008 at 4:31 AM.
Myfanwy was his childhood nanny, Emma!
posy from United Kingdom
Comment 4 of 8, added on May 25th, 2006 at 10:41 PM.
Kind o'er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy....what is or was a kinderbank?
Norman from Australia
Comment 3 of 8, added on May 20th, 2006 at 2:45 PM.
I love this piece, it shows his almost unique ability in writing in cinemascope, moving from her childhood to her life as a mother in seamless fashion. Myfanwy is rather feminine by his tastes with her "soap scented fingers" though he does say she is a tom boy. I think she is the embodiment of the very sensible, pretty but practical middle-upper class lady that Betjeman, and I adore. The outdoor, sporty girl but still tender enough to read Hans Christian Andersen. A delightful love poem that leaves a lot to the reader's thought.
Dan from United Kingdom
Comment 2 of 8, added on January 27th, 2006 at 11:49 AM.
This poem is quite an innocent poem, I think it shows Betjeman's fantasies about strong domineering women, I see what Tony is saying about the bicycle, but i think that the poem is quite childish. It is writen in the first person, I think Betjeman has made up an imagery character. I also think that Myfanwy is much older that the other person, so perhaps Betjeman has a crush on her, but she doesn't know who he is?
Emma from United Kingdom
Comment 1 of 8, added on September 3rd, 2005 at 4:09 PM.
Wonderful poem...Betjeman captures that lost aura of post-war home-counties upper middle class privilege. Always reminds me of south-west London - round about Putney Common or Barnes. Definite hint of eroticism - "fortunate bicycle"...recommend the song version by David Essex: the tune fits the lyric perfectly, an aching longing for a disappeared past.
Tony Griffin from United Kingdom
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I wonder if I came to this poem prior to the David Essex version. Reading the poem now suggests I didn't. I wondered for year if a was a lesbian, schoolgirl crush thing, but reading the poem I see it is from the perspective of a husband, or is it? Now I read that Myfanwy was Betjeman's nanny. All plausible. The beautiful thing is that the poem is open to interpretation. Tony Griffin's observation about the "fortunate bicycle" is a a bit gross but is a sure observation. The Essex music fits the words and the mood perfectly. And the capture of privilege and a lost culture, as Tony points out, rings true. The First World War ended all that.
Cheers
Ian from Australia