Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Lullaby" (also known as "Lay your sleeping head, my love") is a poem by Wystan Hugh Auden, first published in 1937. The poem is a beautiful and poignant meditation on the nature of love and the passage of time.

The poem is structured as a lullaby, a kind of gentle and soothing song that is typically sung to children. Auden uses this structure to create a sense of intimacy and tenderness, inviting the reader to share in the experience of love and affection that he is describing.

One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of time and its impact on our lives and our relationships. Auden suggests that time is a kind of thief, stealing away the things that we hold dear and leaving us with memories that are tinged with sorrow and regret. He suggests that the only way to combat the effects of time is to hold onto the things that matter most, cherishing them in the present moment and refusing to let them slip away.

Another important theme of the poem is the idea of intimacy and the ways in which love can bring us closer to one another. Auden suggests that love is a kind of bridge, connecting us to the people and things that we care about most deeply. He reminds us that love is not just a feeling, but also a kind of commitment, requiring us to be present for one another in good times and bad.

The poem is also notable for its use of language and imagery. Auden uses vivid and evocative language to describe the beauty and tenderness of love, creating a sense of warmth and intimacy that is characteristic of his writing. He also uses powerful images, such as the image of a "sea-change / Into something rich and strange," to capture the sense of transformation that love can bring to our lives.

Overall, "Lullaby" is a beautiful and moving poem that invites us to consider the nature of love and its impact on our lives. Through its use of language and imagery, the poem challenges us to think deeply about the things that matter most, reminding us to cherish the people and experiences that make life worth living.

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