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.

.
WH AUDEN

7 comments:

Dave said...

But on Sunday comes resurrection.

Religious thought for the day.

Mel said...

Holy Week, maybe.

You say poem, I think Purple Cow.

How's that for a stark difference?! ;-)

katherine. said...

I'm considering your thought progression from the Dali to the poem by passing the Magritte...and lighting on the lanterns (smile)

I'm still liking the lanterns best.

sending you a warm hug

Z said...

I love Surrealism - although André Breton's fur cup and saucer is too creepy even for me... but strangely irresistible, like tasting something because it's so wrong that you can't help yourself.

Okay. It's me. I like darkness.

Anonymous said...

When I was very small I had a pneumonia and either it or the drugs gave me fearful nightmares, like Dali paintings. Dali still gives me the creeps ;-)
But you don't!

I, Like The View said...

he's not one of my favourites, dinah, but I find the paintings interesting

Z if you like it and it works for you, that's just dandy!

katherine. the lanterns are wonderful, eh; thanks for the much needed hug

(-:

mel Purple Cow? you've lost me!

thanks for the timely thought, Dave

Mel said...

Yup......the purple cow poem.

I never saw a purple cow
I never hope to see one
But I can tell you anyhow
I'd rather see than be one

*laughing*
See how refined my skill is in poetry recitation?!