Poem A Day - 7/16/08 - W.H. Auden

I should preface this entry by saying that today's video almost didn't happen. I was immediately out of the house when I woke up this morning and have gotten back just in time to pick out a poem and do a reading of it. Conversely, I could have done another haiku or a short lyric poem, but I really didn't have much writing time today. Tomorrow there should be another full entry.

I also selected this Auden poem because it's one of my favorites. I was going to do a Billy Collins one, but chances are that I'm going to be doing another cover Saturday and/or Sunday because of a busy weekend, so keep an eye out for Collins in the near future. This poem doesn't have an official title as far as I know, it's usually just called by the first line, like a lot of the Dickinson poems are. Anyway, here's the text.

W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.


I was also looking to the side of the screen this time because that's where the text was on screen. I would have rerecorded it, but I had enough background noise in this one that I didn't want to risk having to do ten more takes.

Enjoy.

I did not write this poem and cannot take any creative credit. All credit goes to W.H. Auden.

I would also like to thank my second subscriber for the comments and the subscription! Also, everyone please subscribe, comment, rate, and share with friends!

Category:

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• Poem
• Day
• Poems
• Poetry
• Creativity
• Auden
• animals
• death
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[contentlocked99]

athf rocks

[FLYmeatwad]

Yes, it certainly does.

[Imperialdestruction1]

opfer

[iMikiz]

south park ! EEK! CARTMAN!

[odinglaz]

too fast, my Dear, too fast!

[Berbal666]

I love this poem....i once had someone who was "my North, my South. my East and West"....the perfect words for the end of a perfect life....