(W.H. Auden)  Victor was a little baby, into this world he came:  His father took him on his knee and said:' Don't dishonour the family  name.' Victor looked up at his father- loked up with big round eyes:  His father said:' Victor, my only son, don't you ever tell lies.'  It was a frosty December, it wsn't the season for fruits;  His father fell dead of heart disease while lacing up his boots.  It was a frosty December when into his grave he sank;  His uncle found Victor a post as a cashier in the Midlands Counties  bank.  It was a frosty December Victor was only eighteen.  But his figures were neat and his margins straight and his cuffs were  always clean.  He took a room at the Peveril, a respectableboarding-house: And Time  watched Victor day after day as a cat willwatch a mouse.  Victor went up to his bedroom, set the alarm bell;  Climbed into his bed, took his bible and read of happend to Jezebel.  It was the First of April, Anna to the Peveril came;  Her eyes, her lips, her breasts, her hips and her smile set men  aflame. It was the Second of April, she was wearing a coat of fur;  Victor met her upon the stairs and fell in love with her.  The first time he made his proposal, she laughed, said:' I'll never  wed':  The second time there was a pause, then she shook her head. Anna  looked at the mirror, pouted and gave a frown; Said;'Victor's as dull  as a wet afternoon but I've got to settle down.'  The third time hemade his proposal, as they walked by the Reservoir,  She gave him a kiss like a blowon the head, said,'You are my heart's  desire.'  They married early in August, she said;'Kiss me, you funny  boy':  Victor took her in his arms and said:'O my Helen of Troy.'  The clerks were talking of Anna, the door was just ajar:  One said:'Poor old Victor, but where ignorance is bliss, etcetera.'  Victor looked up at the sunset as he stood there all alone; Cried:'Are  you in Heaven, Father ?', but the sky said'Address not known.'  Victor looked up at the mountains, the mountains all covered with  snow;  Cried:'Are you pleased with me, Father ?' and the answer came  back,No.  Victor came to the forest, cried:'Father, will she ever be  true ?'  And the oaks and the beeches shook their heads and they  answered:' Not to you.'  Victor came to the meadow where the wind went  sweeping by: Cried:' O Father, I love her so,' but the wind said:' She  must die.'  Victor came to the river running so deep and so still;  Crying:' O Father, what shall I do ?' and the river answered:' Kill.'  Anna was sitting at table, drawing cards from a pack;  Anna was sitting at table waiting for her husband to come back.  Victor stood in the doorway, he didn't utter a word;  She said:'What's the matter, darling ?' he behaved as if he hadn't  heard.  There was a voice in his left ear, there was a voice in the  right,  There was a voice at the base of his skull saying:'She must die  tonight.'  Victor picked up a carving knife, his features were set and  drawn, Said;'Anna, it would have been better for you if you had not  been born.'  Anna jumped up from the table, Anna started to scream,  But Victor cam slowly after her like a horror in a dream.  She dodged behind the sofa, she tore down a curtain rod,  But Victor came slowly after her, said' Prepare to meet Thy God.'  He stood there above the body, he stood there holding the knife;  And the blood ran down the stairs and sang; ' I am the Resurrection  and the Life.'  They tapped Victor on the shoulder, they took him away  in a van;  He sat as quiet as a lump of moss saying; ' I am the Son of  Man.'  Victor sat in a corner  Making a woman of clay.  Saying:' I am Alpha and Omega, I shall come  To judge the earth one day.'