Poems by John Betjeman

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Poems by John Betjeman

John Betjeman writes interesting and contrasting poems, most of which

are very personal and a recollection of his past. He is a vivid poet

and never fails to set his scenes well. He always includes as much

detail as possible and his poems are oozing with creative writing.

'Indoor games Near Newbury' is about a boy, maybe himself, going to a

party and meeting a young beautiful girl. Betjeman conveys a rich

surrounding and on entering the house, it has many wealthy attributes,

'Winding ways of tarmac, gabled lodges and tile-hung churches'. Also,

there are motorcars, 'Hupmobile, Delage', but on top of this, posh

places for them as well, 'private gravel, warm garage'. The atmosphere

is cheerful and a time for 'Christmas cake' and the children are

playing 'hide and seek'. When he meets Wendy, it's love at first sight

and when Betjeman says 'you led me off', it gives you a feeling as

though Wendy is an angel lifting him off his feet. Another example is

when he describes him sleeping as Wendy 'holds him as he drifts to

dreamland' like a Christmas angel guiding him through troubled times.

Once he meets Wendy, everything seems to turn into fantasy, 'Fairies,

pinewood elf and larch tree gnome', which shows his childlike mind.

However, the whole poem changes its feel after you read the last

phrase, 'slumber-wear'. This gives the poem a very strange quality,

knowing that the boy is still very young and already up to no good.

The uncle also adds to this effect by asking them to 'fox-trot' giving

the reader the illusion that maybe the children are older. This poem

is very ambiguous because on the surface it seems very innocent but

underneath the surface, there is a strange double meaning to it.

The poem 'Devonshire Street' tells a very different story of an old

couple visiting a doctor and having the realisation that death is

close by. It is a very rich place with a 'heavy mahogany door.' When

Betjeman says 'no hope' at the beginning of the 2nd paragraph, it

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