If I had known what trouble you were bearing; What griefs were in the silence of your face; I would have been more gentle, and more caring, And tried to give you gladness for a space. I would have brought more warmth into the place. If I had known. If I had known what thoughts despairing drew you; (Why do we never try to understand?) I would have lent a little friendship to you, And slipped my hand within your hand, And made your stay more pleasant in the land, If I had known. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I'M GOING BACK TO SOMETHING by DAVID IGNATOW SONNET TO GUIDO CAVALCANTI by DANTE ALIGHIERI SNOWFLAKES by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW FAST ANCHOR'D ETERNAL O LOVE! by WALT WHITMAN A CHARACTER OF JOHN MORT by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |