 " In Praise of Limestone " is a poem written by W. H. Auden in Italy in May 1948 . Central to his canon and one of Auden 's finest poems , it has been the subject of diverse scholarly interpretations . Auden 's limestone landscape has been interpreted as an allegory of Mediterranean civilization and of the human body . The poem , however , is also a reflection of Auden 's love for Italy , and is an example of the poet's ability to use nature to represent human experience .
" In Praise of Limestone " is a poem written by W. H. Auden in Italy in May 1948 . Central