The Question

To ask the hard question is simple:
Asking at meeting
with the simple glance of acquaintance
To what these go
And how these do;
To ask the hard question is simple,
The simple act of the confused will.

But the answer
is hard and hard to remember:
..
..
-W.H. Auden

I think here Auden asks us to consider the simple social question and, at the same time, its simplicity and ridiculousness. "How are you doing?" "Where are you headed?" These are simple questions, four words each, and direct. But are they easy to answer? Auden says no, the answer isn't so simple. We hardly ever give the questions any real sort of answer, for they ask too much of us, ask us to dig too deep. Far better to keep with the social norms and give a simple and evasive white lie in response.

"And ghosts must do again
What gives them pain."