The phrase “elegantly killing time” appears in Sir John Betjeman’s poetry to describe the leisurely, often stagnant life of the upper class in historic settings.
- Poem Reference: The specific line—“Still to-day we find Venetians elegantly killing time”—is found in a poem titled Longfellow’s Visit to Venice .
- Context: The poem contrasts the “New World” with the “Old World,” depicting Venetians in their “gilded old palazzos”.
- Significance: This imagery is a hallmark of Betjeman’s style, which often focuses on nostalgia, architecture, and the social manners of the British (and occasionally European) upper-middle class. Critics have noted that Betjeman “elegantly lamented” the fading of these worlds even while they were still standing.