Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Stop all the clocks

For Jet and all the other babies who should be here but aren't:

Stop all the clocks

by WH 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.

9 comments:

Barbara said...

It's a beautiful poem written right from the heart.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

OMG I have this poem/book, I fell in love with it when I heard it "Four Weddings and a Funeral" It is perfect. My heart is very heavy with sadness for them.

Lynda said...

That is very beautiful.

I just cant even imagine the pain Jet's mommy and daddy are going through. My heart hurts for them.

Juliet said...

Wow, it's like this poem read my mind. It's a beautiful poem.

Dani819 said...

I've been reading and thinking about Jet all day. This is what finally made me break down and sob.

Inanna said...

One of my favorites. Thank you.

Rachele Stuart said...

I haven't heard this one. How touching and true. Thanks for sharing it, Jill. I have been thinking of Jet, Mirne and Craig and all the rest of us. My heart feels so heavy the past couple days.

Karen said...

I love that poem. It so captures everything about grieving. Everything.

Akul's mama said...

So right...our babies are our North, South, East and West...without them there is nothing.