Mothers and Fathers and Lovers, Oh My.

From Sherill Tippins' February House: The Story of W. H. Auden, Carson McCullers, Jane and Paul Bowles, Benjamin Britten, and Gypsy Rose Lee, Under One Roof In Wartime America:

Chester [Kallman, W. H. Auden's young lover] once described ... a time when he and Auden were riding the subway to Chester's grandmother's house and began to argue over which psychological roles they played with each other. As the other passengers looked on in disbelief, Auden shouted over the roar of the train, "I am not your father, I'm your mother!" and Chester yelled back, "You're not my mother! I'm your mother...You're my father!" "But you've got a father!" Auden countered. "I'm your bloody mother and that's that, darling! You've been looking for a mother since the age of four!"

Comments

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

You found it! What do you think of February House so far?

[Steph]

I love it! Thank you (and Sara O'Leary) for suggesting it.

Also, Susan, thank you for the Chicken Spaghetti recipe I found on your site -- we had it for lunch today!

[Susan (Chicken Spaghetti)]

Steph, that's a hoot about the chicken spaghetti. I really do love the casserole; it's a real church-lady staple. Or at least it was in the 70s. (Served with a spinach salad w/ mandarin oranges, purple onions, and poppyseed dressing.) That recipe comes from the Austin Symphony League Cookbook. People usually have thirds when I make it.

[amcorrea]

This is a fantastic read. I've always loved Auden, but his self-appointed role of "house mother" to this motley group of artists made him even more endearing. Here's a favorite bit (that continues to give me much hope and consolation):

"Most alarming to Auden, meals turned out to be equally casual. Carson enjoyed playing chef, but her menus were limited to such dishes as meat patties, canned green pea soup with wienies, and a concoction she called 'Spuds Carson'--mashed potatoes mixed with onions, cheese, or whatever she found in the larder. Even these were often burnt to the consistency of charcoal, since Carson tended to wander off and forget that she was cooking."