James Bryant... my favourite poetry

Stop all the clocks by W H Auden. You may have heard

it read in the film "Three weddings and a funeral"

and I read it out at my Dad's funeral service in 1998:

 

"Love is Love" by Sir Edward Dyer 1543-1607:

 

By Joseph Carey Merrick, 1862-1890 (Elephant Man):

 

Abridged by me and given to Diann on the occasion of her

catching a 12 lb carp at Trow Pool, 8 September 1999:

 

Sonnet 94 by William Shakespeare (1564-1616):

 

HINTERHOF by James Fenton


 

W. H. Auden... If I could tell you

 

Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose all the lions get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away;
Will Time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know.

 

Penned by my hand and presented to my dad on his trip to the USA, February 1996

 

See also see my favourite sonnets by William Shakespeare

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