there can be little doubt that , as humphrey carpenter supposes ( bio-graphy p. 71 ) , this was the first poem on the subject of earendel that my father composed , and that it was written at phoenix farm , gedling , nottinghamshire , in september 1914.~ it was to this poem that he was referring in the letter of 1967 just cited -- 'i wrote a `` poem '' upon earendel who launched his ship like a bright spark : cf .