Prior to Wordsworth, humor was an essential part of poetry. I mean, they don't call them Shakespeare comedies for nothing.

I think humor is a very serious thing. I use it as a way of weakening the reader's defenses so that I can more easily take him to something more.

In numbers warmly pure and sweetly strong.

Beloved, till life can charm no more; And mourned, till Pity's self be dead.

By fairy hands their knell is rung; By forms unseen their dirge is sung.