Your Favorite Poems

Lady_Wu · 08-08-2010, 01:19 PM

O Tell Me The Truth About Love (annotated)

Some say Love's a little boy,
Some say it's a bird,
Some say it makes the world go round,
Some say that's absurd,
And when I asked the man next-door
Who looked as if he knew,
His wife got very cross indeed,
And said it wouldn't do.

Does it look like a pair of pyjamas,
Or a ham in a temperance hotel?
Does it odour remind one of llamas,
Or has it a comforting smell?
Is it prickly to touch as a hedge is,
Or soft as eiderdown fluff?
Is it sharp or quite smooth at the edges?
O tell me the truth about Love.

Does it howl like a hungry Alsatian,
or boom like a military band?
Could one give a first-rate imitation
On a saw or a Steinway Grand?
Is its singing at parties a riot?
Does it only like Classical stuff?
Will it stop when one wants to be quiet?
O tell me the truth about Love.

When it comes, will it come without warning
Just as I'm picking my nose?
Will it knock on my door in the morning,
Or tread in the bus on my toes?
Will it come like a change in the weather?
Will its greeting be courteous or rough?
Will it alter my life altogether?
O tell me the truth about Love.
(W H Auden)

Auden is one of my favorite poets. I love his usage of language, esp. in rhythm. He can be very funny and profound at the same time. A shame he is not better known in the country. (He was an English poet.)
Lady_Wu, gnarled tree (see Chuang-Tzu for explanation of THAT one. Or just PM me if curious. lol)

08-08-2010, 01:19 PM	#11
Lady_Wu Member How Do You Identify?: OFOS Queer Stone femme Preferred Pronoun?: M'Lady Relationship Status: given up looking sigh Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: somewhere buried under a pile of books Posts: 197 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 285 Thanked 300 Times in 105 Posts Rep Power: 155956	O Tell Me The Truth About Love O Tell Me The Truth About Love (annotated) Some say Love's a little boy, Some say it's a bird, Some say it makes the world go round, Some say that's absurd, And when I asked the man next-door Who looked as if he knew, His wife got very cross indeed, And said it wouldn't do. Does it look like a pair of pyjamas, Or a ham in a temperance hotel? Does it odour remind one of llamas, Or has it a comforting smell? Is it prickly to touch as a hedge is, Or soft as eiderdown fluff? Is it sharp or quite smooth at the edges? O tell me the truth about Love. Does it howl like a hungry Alsatian, or boom like a military band? Could one give a first-rate imitation On a saw or a Steinway Grand? Is its singing at parties a riot? Does it only like Classical stuff? Will it stop when one wants to be quiet? O tell me the truth about Love. When it comes, will it come without warning Just as I'm picking my nose? Will it knock on my door in the morning, Or tread in the bus on my toes? Will it come like a change in the weather? Will its greeting be courteous or rough? Will it alter my life altogether? O tell me the truth about Love. (W H Auden) Auden is one of my favorite poets. I love his usage of language, esp. in rhythm. He can be very funny and profound at the same time. A shame he is not better known in the country. (He was an English poet.) Lady_Wu, gnarled tree (see Chuang-Tzu for explanation of THAT one. Or just PM me if curious. lol) __________________ I'm the Yin in the Yang and the Yang in the Yin.