A Proper Response

Finding it a bit difficult to engage in genuinely sustained reading lately, I've been dipping into the wonderful and eminently dippable Selected Letters of Ted Hughes. There are gems on every page. The letters to son Nick are particularly striking - peculiarly tender and wise.

And then I remember how poor Nick ended his life. I've occasionally said to classes that sometimes the only sane response to what you're reading is tears. They think I'm joking. I'm not.