Lullaby Poem Analysis

In W.H. Auden’s Lullaby, two lovers are connected between time and endearment. One is relearning to be faithful, and he is willing to do commit to that in this piece. Many believe that Auden portrays himself as the lover who is learning about devotion. This poem portrays the moments after physical and emotional intimacy. In Auden’s words, his character now seems to have the ability to only get better, since he it seems that he had hit rock bottom in the past when on the topic of steady relationships. He shows that this love will last, and that it will forever be remembered. In stanza one, Auden introduces the scene, addresses his past mistakes with relationships, suggests his affection, and the normalness, innocence, yet undoubted beauty of his love. “Lay your sleeping head, my love,/ Human on my faithless arm;/ Time and fevers burn away/ Individual beauty from/ Thoughtful children, and the grave/ Proves the child ephemeral:/ But in my arms till break of day/ Let the living creature lie,/ Mortal, guilty, but to me,/ The entirely beautiful.” In line two, Auden …show more content…
Auden formulates, “Certainty, fidelity/ On the stroke of midnight pass/ Like vibrations of a bell/ And fashionable madmen raise/ Their pedantic boring cry:/ Every farthing of the cost,/ All the dreaded cards foretell,/ Shall be paid, but from this night/ Not a whisper, not a thought,/ Not a kiss nor look be lost.” He starts out by explaining his new found faithfulness, thus his lover will stay the night. Auden then expounds on how many are against his relationship with his lover, and that he will most likely pay the price later on. He does not mind in the moment though. All Auden is mindful about is the present moment; he and his lover, and the precious time that they are spending together. He explains that he will not take these treasured instances for granted, and that they will be printed in his mind