What Ted said when asked ‘what does it mean’

After my recent musings on answering the ‘what does it mean’ question, I was happy to come across this in the Letters of Ted Hughes:

To Lydia Clement and Alison George

29 July 1985

Dear Miss Clement and Miss George

Thank you for your letter. If I answered your question it might stop you worrying, but it would not help you. You know that when you answer a problem, you kill it. And it might be a fruitful problem.

Best wishes,

Ted Hughes

As 13-year old schoolgirls. Lydia Clement and Alison George had been reading TH’s story ‘The Rain Horse’ and had written to ask what the horse symbolised.

 

Photo by Kevin Porto