I find, today, that I have put on three stone since leaving the hospital
two and a half years ago after almost dying. And it is all down to beer.
I would have some stories to tell to Patrick, particularly of his `Raglan
Road' and `If ever you go to Dublin Town'. They are now `traditional'
folk songs. And what more could he ask. I would agree that he scraped
the barrel as he got older and ran out of ideas. I have already noted
his jealousy of Auden for being able to renew the learned lumber in his
head. There was some very poor stuff when he was writing for money.
But I prefer him to most of the competing Irish, say Austin Clarke.
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