(i) AUTOGRAPH WORKING PAPERS FOR HIS POEM 'THE CAFÉ IN THE PARK', originally headed 'Half of Life', signed ('Stephen Spender'), the final poem 20 lines in four five-line stanzas, comprising autograph and typed drafts with extensive and heavy autograph revisions and deletions preserving reconsidered readings, with a final autograph version signed and typescript, 14 pages, folio, one draft dated 20 July 1990
Half his life gone, he takes his drink
At the café in the park, Across
Oblongs, the white stone table tops,
Lights and shadows flicker, filtered from
The sky, through wind-swept trees above...
(ii) AUTOGRAPH DRAFTS FOR A POEM BEGINNING 'MIDSUMMER DAYS...', some 75 lines, with extensive and heavy autograph revisions and deletions preserving reconsidered readings, 3 pages on the versos of (i), not dated [but 1990]
Midsummer days
Arrowing rays
From the sun's golden centre...
(iii) AUTOGRAPH DRAFT OF A POEM BEGINNING 'REMEMBERING FRIENDS LONG DEAD...', 7 lines scored through preserving reconsidered readings, 1 page, folio, dated 10 November 1988
Remembering friends long dead is looking through
A great mound built by the events
Between that time and now...
Publication of these poems has not been traced. Also see lot 331 and index. Spender's papers are largely in the Bodleian Library.
