“AMID ALL THE POETIC RICHES OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, FOUR SHORT LINES STAND OUT.” The Economist (December 23) says about four lines of English verse:
“Amid all the poetic riches of English literature, four short lines stand out.” An astonishing claim—and my initial reaction was that no four lines could stand up to that billing. When I read the four lines they nominated, I could understand their claim:
“Westron wynde, when wilt thou blow,
the small raine down can raine,
Cryst, if my love were in my armes
and I in my bedde again.”