William Empson was an influential English literary critic and metaphysical poet. His seminal work “Seven Types of Ambiguity” revolutionized literary criticism by championing close textual analysis and ambiguity.
Empson was also a gifted poet in his own right, admired by contemporaries for his intellectual precision and elaborate conceits reminiscent of John Donne.
William Empson’s poem ‘To An Old Lady’ explores the fading significance of time and societal expectations on aging.
Ripeness is all; her in her cooling planet
Revere; do not presume to think her wasted.
Project her no projectile, plan nor man it;
Gods cool in turn, by the sun long outlasted.
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