Click on the start arrow to listen to a podcast about the 53-year journey of this poem
A group portrait and a self-reflection, written when the poet was of the age described.
The Vanity of Young Men Theirs is a casual grace. A cigarette held loosely in the fingertips, shirt sleeves folded above the wrist. They have the poise of polished fruit. No less conspicuous in a crowd, their carriage suggests self confidence and a potential for greater things. People often stop them for directions. What makes them so attractive is the keenness of their minds. To them the sound of one hand clapping is half the sound of two. They never question the question. It is pleasant to be among their company. Watch them shaking hands or throwing a football. You would like to sit with them for a cup of coffee. Click here to see "The Fifty Year Mirror", a slideshow of the poem's journey and theme.
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The poem, originally conceived as the choreography for a mime performance, is interpreted by a dancer and cinematographer while the poet reads aloud.
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