During our first session, we discussed Keat 's view of history as a cyclical series of historic events and addressed the impact of World War I on his poem "Second Coming." We noted the poem's references to "blood -dimmed tide, anarchy, and loss of innocence" as an observation of the post WWI society in England that gave rise to America's "Lost generation" of writers. During the second session, at Nina's request, we studied the very recondite poem by Wallace Stevens "The Emperor of Ice Cream" as well as the equally enigmatic "Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams. As we worked through Steven's poem line by line ,Nina demonstrated strong analytical and imaginary insight in piecing together the poet's message to value reality over illusions . We discussed the ironic tone of the title as suggestive of meaning. We then examined "Red Wheelbarrow" and exchanged ideas and interpretations on the symbolism of the red wheelbarrow that "so much depends upon." Last , In connection with the homework reading on Auden's "Beaux Arts" ,we looked at Brueghel's painting ,"Landscape of the Fall of Icarus" ,and I discussed the myth of Daedalus and Icarus portrayed in the painting.