Time Love Memory

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.

W H Auden

I like this poem.  I like how there is a poetic relation of a distance of the hearts that is seen in the very real distance of stars.  Unrequited love has to be one of the worst feelings ever, and yet the poet here would rather be the one who is in pain and not his love equally shared.  If someone should suffer it should be him and not the stars.  The last two stanzas are how he deals with this whole situation.  I do not totally buy the idea that he doesn't miss the stars all day.  I feel like it is something he hopes or tells himself to feel better.  Or if he does mean it, he can only mean it after some time has passed.  In the last stanza he basically says that given time he can over come this unqual affection.

Untitled

When the heart
Is cut or cracked or broken
Do not clutch it
Let the wound lie open
Let the wind
From the good old sea blow in
To bathe the wound with salt

Let a stray dog lick it
Let a bird lean in the hole and sing
A simple song like a tiny bell
And let it ring
Let it go.  Let it out.
Let it all unravel.
Let it free and it can be
A path on which to travel.

Michael Leunig

Another good one I think.  I think I have seen people who get really messed up after a hard break up something of the sort.  And they don't know what to do, and sometimes retreat from the world and get defensive.  And I would say and I think Leunig would agree you got to get hurt and let it be.  These are times when you grow you build your life on these.  I just really like the last 4 lines.