What do you find interesting about the way in which Auden presents "If I could tell you"

Auden uses naturalistic imagery within the poem such as the wind and the leaves to symbolise life. The origin of the wind could represent the origin of life and Auden could be suggesting that life has a purpose, just as wind does. The decaying leaves are interesting as the image is fairly derogatory, yet peaceful as there are “reasons why the leaves decay”. Auden could be suggesting that there are reasons why bad things happen, and that death is inevitable. But life should be lived fully, until that point. The brooks could refer to rivers, and by running away, the brooks are personified. Their running is ambiguous as it could be referring to the natural flow of a river but could also represent the flow of life, suggesting that the recipient may be running away from experiencing life. The brooks could also be an analogy of Rupert brooks who was a famous propagandist during the war. Thus the war imagery of propagandist and soldiers running away symbolises the end of war, and the end of doing what human nature expects, and it is at this point that the narrator does not know what time will say.

It is interesting that at the end of the poem it is implied that by going against expectations, you can make a difference; were as the beginning of the poem is slightly more pessimistic. When Auden says “If we should stumble when musicians play” the expected action of dancing is reversed however; “time will say nothing but I told you so” implying that by not fitting in and taking a risk, nothing will change. Time is unusual in the poem, as despite references to “fortunes” and “Time” no actual time scale happens, and so the narrator could be talking about one decision, or an entire lifetime.

In conclusion I find “ If I Could Tell You” interesting because its message, that life is about taking risks, is interesting as it questions expectations and the methods Auden uses to demonstrate this are interesting; the characterisation of Time, has the affect of bringing greater importance to the message, and makes the narrator more likeable in comparison. The imagery used creates a persuasive register, and pragmatically supports the message. The form of the poem even supports the message, and so the levels of which Auden builds upon the reader’s consciousness and subconscious are greater, therefore the reader is left with a feeling of self motivation, and more inclined to take on board the message of the poem, and strive to make a difference, than if the poem was written in a more direct manner, that could appear condescending as opposed to the caring register that the narrator presents throughout “If I Could Tell You” is ironic, as the narrator does actually tell you what he would like you to do.