"O Tell Me the Truth About Love" by W.H. Auden

[jacobwhitnall]

is that a sestina?

[SpokenVerse]

@jacobwhitnall Well, not a sestina, but an unusual ballad form. The stanzas are in pairs, the first being in iambs, the second in anapests. I don't know of anything else like it.

[sidrakhan202]

we have a word in Urdu for absolutely awesome things that brings you sudden and inexplicable joy, "zabardast!"

that was the first word i said as i finished listening to this one.. :)

[agrlfmtx]

I love that this poem was rhymin'

Snapped my fingers to the rythmic timin'

Melancholly at the ending above

Never told us the truth about love....T:)

[FaDiezeMineur]

Can you please explain the meaning of "the ham in a temperance hotel", especially "the ham" ? (an overacting actor or a piece of meat or neither?...)

Thank you for your beautiful readings !

[EdNortonisMineLol]

This is fab, well done

[audiofile7]

I'd like to hear the first-rate imitation on a saw.

[SpokenVerse]

@audiofile7 A saw is a musical instrument - but you knew that, right?

[Dapperdan2009]

I love all your readings that i've come across--and i must say, this one is definitely a stand out. Well done.

[MrHeslopian]

The repeated half rhyme of "love," and words ending in an "uff" sound, reminds me of a Dylan Thomas poem, addressed to his aunt (I can't remember the title) which he signs "lots of luff."

[SpokenVerse]

@MrHeslopian It's called "Letter to My Aunt"

[MrHeslopian]

@SpokenVerse Ah I see thanks. For some reason I imagined that it had some grand title.

[junjinho1]

anapestic tri meter, for the second stanza am i right?

[SpokenVerse]

@junjinho1 The odd lines have three anapests and an extra unstressed syllable. The even lines have three anapests ending on a stressed syllable. But it's not that rigid. Count the syllables on your fingers - a syllable being the least amount you can utter and still make the poem sound intelligible.

[wanranma]

haha it's a really fun poem to listen to.

[redsonha]

thank you so so much !!!

[surrected4526]

FANTASTIC READING! Oh, how I loved the way you read this poem. Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nelson587]

Thank you for reading of these poems ... The world needs to hear more of the poems with heart , so we can begin to heal ourselfs with the magic they hold with in them ..

[joehauz]

Thanks very much.

You give these poems lives, as well as a great conductor do.

[rader55555]

Although I would rather here the original poets' voices in these clips I think your voice is well suited for reading poetry aloud (the only way it should be read). You are doing a service here, putting these up on youtube which has been inundated by hate and triteness. They say there's no glory in poetry, only achievement. You sir, have definitely achieved something here.

[Albatrostardust9]

Is it read by W. H. Auden himself?

[SpokenVerse]

No, it was read by me - I read all the poems in this channel

[wasteland70]

@SpokenVerse You did an amazing job!!!! Really, truly, well done!!! LOVE IT!!