I Don't Know If History Repeats Itself
I Don't Know If History Repeats Itself - meaning Summary
Love Amid Divided City
The speaker recalls living in a divided city—physically split and emotionally split from a lover—and compares their insulated, dangerous intimacy to building a protective but deadening house. Although the city is later reunified, the relationship cannot be restored. The poem argues that while historical patterns may seem cyclical, personal absences are final: the beloved will not return, and the private rupture is irrevocable.
Read Complete AnalysesI don't Know if history repeats itself But I do know that you don't. I remember that city was didvided Not only between Jews and Arabs, But Between me and you, When we were there together. We made ourselves a womb of dangers We built ourselves a house of deadening wars Like men of far north Who build themselves a safe warm house of deadening ice. The city has been reunited But we haven't been there together. By now I know That History doesn't repeat itself, As I always knew that you wouldn't.
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