THE MORE LOVING ONE – a precious reminder from W.H. Auden

 

I received this lovely email messsage:

“Your mention of how in a relationship, if one loves more than the other, please let me be the one who loves more supported me greatly in keep giving him love and attention.”

W.H.Auden, the poet,  reminds all of to wish to be the more loving one in  a relationship.

THE MORE LOVING ONE

 

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well

That, for all they care, I can go to hell,

But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast.

 

How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us, we could not return?

If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me.

 

Admirer as I think I am

Of stars that do not give a damn,

I cannot, now I see them, say

I missed one terribly all day.

 

Were all stars to disappear or die,

I should learn to look at an empty sky

And feel its total dark sublime,

Though this might take me a little time.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGLduTDuS7o

W.H. Auden

Poet. Essayist

Born York, England. February 21, 1907

Died Vienna, Austria. September 27, 1973

 Commentary: In the first verse, Auden appears to view initially the cosmos as a cold, heartless place, but then in the subsequent verses  recognises the importance of love over indifference and wishes to be the more loving one, if in a relationship, affection is not equal. The two lines I put in italics have become much loved lines in contemporary English poetry. Perhaps the stars serve as a metaphor for persons. Even if a star in our life goes out, we don’t have to miss that person all day. In the final verse, even if all the stars disappeared from our life, there is that empty sky that is sublime though it would take a little time to know this. Love Christopher

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