hee-hee

below is a love letter purportedly written by john betjemann, the poet who wrote, among other things, slough. the letter is addressed to honor tracy, who betjeman had some unexplained connection with. anyway here ya go:

Darling Honor,

I loved yesterday. All day, I've thought of nothing else. No other love I've had means so much. Was it just an aberration on your part, or will you meet me at Mrs Holmes's again - say on Saturday? I won't be able to sleep until I have your answer.

Love has given me a miss for so long, and now this miracle has happened. Sex is a part of it, of course, but I have a Romaunt of the Rose feeling about it too. On Saturday we could have lunch at Fortt's, then go back to Mrs H's. Never mind if you can't make it then. I am free on Sunday too or Sunday week. Signal me tomorrow as to whether and when you can come.

Anthony Powell has written to me, and mentions you admiringly. Some of his comments about the Army are v funny. He's somebody I'd like to know better when the war is over. I find his letters funnier than his books. Tinkerty-tonk, my darling. I pray I'll hear from you tomorrow. If I don't I'll visit your office in a fake beard.
All love, JB

it was included in his biography by his biographer, a.n. wilson. the good part is, if you take the first letter of each sentence after the first one, it spells out "A.N. WILSON IS A SHIT".

the theory seems to be that it was done by someone who'd been dissed by a.n. wilson, which makes a certain amount of sense. but i would love to believe it was john betjeman himself, having some premonition that a.n. wilson would eventually be prying into the details of his life. i also like the idea of one of the better recent english language poets signing off with the phrase "tinkerty-tonk".