Well-Educated Mind Poetry Reading List discussion

This is a such a true poem. Ouch!

The poet was out walking the city streets one evening, about the crowds - as "fields of harvest wheat," - when he overheard a singer declare that "Love has no ending."

The singer promised to love his "dear" until the impossible occured (like "China and Africa meet" ) or until "the end of the world."

Then Auden intervenes with a dose of reality..."BUT..." as the clocks chime in.

The clocks called out: "O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time."

And the clocks together proceed to tell the truth about life and living, aging and growing old. Love doesn't last. We become distracted by our worries and anxieties until we wonder where did life (and love and time) go? Time always wins in the end.

Sometimes life on earth feels worthless and purposeless, even corrupt! (It is!!)
And yet, the clocks say (to everyone listening): Face it! Life, though short, is a blessing. You still have to rise up and love your neighbor. You, corrupt as you are, must love your corrupt neighbor.

By the time the clocks were done chiming, the lovers were gone and the river flowed on as before.