The Poet: W.H. Auden, “If I Could Tell You”

Full screen recommended.

“If I Could Tell You”

"In this video, Tom O’Bedlam reads W.H. Auden’s poem “If I Could Tell You”. The poem is a villanelle that reflects on the passage of time and the fragility of human emotions and knowledge. The speaker begins by reflecting upon how time often reveals very little apart from the costs humans must pay. The poem uses simple language and refrains typical of the villanelle lyric form to meditate upon mankind’s endless search for love and meaning in spite of the relentless march of time. Above all, it is a wistful reflection on the impossibility of truly understanding and knowing the world and its purpose. Tom O’Bedlam’s heartfelt reading adds a layer of emotion to the poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression on the listener."

“We must love one another or die.”

- W. H. Auden