Jack MacGowran (1918-1973) ....

.... in 'Beginning to End',
a monologue constructed
out of the writing of Samuel Beckett
that was recorded as
'MacGowran Speaking Beckett'
the greatest voice recording ever made.

It begins; "I shall soon be quite dead at last ...."

And a recording of Jack MacGowran
reading Beckett poems in 1972 came out this year
and on it is the most Romantic poem ever written
which begins; "I would like my love to die...."

Anyway, if you ever get a bit down,
these recordings are better than pills or drink
to bring you round
though I can't exactly explain why.

If at all.