Thus, like a sonnet, the poem is marked by a definite break or turn in thought. The first thirteen lines of the poem introduce the poem's theme and discuss it in general term, while the second half of the poem develops and illustrates the general idea with a specific example. Another Time is the first book Auden published as an emigrant to the United States, and the collection is viewed by critics as a pivotal one that marks Auden's turn from secular political concerns towards ethical concerns, concerns often addressed by Christianity. The poem hints at Auden's involvement in the conflict between meaningful events and an oblivious world. These words hint at an emotional sensitivity which recognizes and feels human suffering within a cold and indifferent world.
Religious acceptance means coming to terms with the ways of the world.
Thus, the poem hints at Auden's increased interest in ethical concerns and his eventual reconversion to Christianity. Johnson notes that the poem shifts one's perspective of reality. It does this by layering time and events. For instance, the poem places the reader in front of a painting in a museum, challenging the reader to develop the analogy between the world within the painting and the world outside the museum. Thus, events such as the birth and death of Christ become relevant to the time and place of the reader.