'Three Short Poems' by W.H. Auden


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


"The underground roads
Are, as the dead prefer them,
Always tortuous."

"When he looked the cave in the eye,
Hercules
Had a moment of doubt."

Leaning out over
The dreadful precipice,
One contemptuous tree."

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Beauty and Complexity of W.H. Auden's Three Short Poems

Have you ever read a poem that leaves you feeling like you've just witnessed a work of art? A poem that can be read and re-read, each time revealing a new layer of meaning, an intricacy that wasn't previously noticed? That is precisely what W.H. Auden's Three Short Poems does.

Auden's Three Short Poems is an exploration of some of the most fundamental aspects of human existence: love, death, and the passage of time. In just three short stanzas, Auden manages to convey sentiments that are at once deeply personal and yet universally relatable.

Poem 1: Stop All the Clocks

The first poem, "Stop All the Clocks," is perhaps the most well-known of the three. It has been read and quoted countless times, and for good reason. The poem is a heart-wrenching elegy that mourns the loss of a loved one.

"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."

These opening lines are incredibly powerful. The sense of loss and grief is palpable. The speaker is so consumed by their sorrow that they wish for the entire world to come to a standstill. They want everything to stop, to mourn the passing of their loved one.

As the poem continues, we see the speaker's pain grow even more acute. They can't bear the thought of the world continuing on without their loved one.

"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 forever: I was wrong."

These lines are particularly poignant. The speaker's loved one was everything to them. They were the center of their world, and now that they're gone, everything feels empty and meaningless. The final line, "I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong," is devastating. It speaks to the fragility of life and love, that even the strongest bonds can be broken by death.

Poem 2: Musee des Beaux Arts

The second poem, "Musee des Beaux Arts," is a reflection on the nature of human suffering. The poem takes its inspiration from Pieter Bruegel's painting "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus," which depicts the mythological figure Icarus falling into the sea while everyone around him goes about their daily business.

About suffering they were never wrong, The Old Masters: how well they understood Its human position; how it takes place While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;

These opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on the fact that human suffering often goes unnoticed by those around us. We can be surrounded by tragedy and pain, and yet we continue on with our lives as if nothing is happening. The reference to the Old Masters serves to underscore the fact that this is not a new phenomenon – people have been turning a blind eye to suffering for centuries.

The poem goes on to describe Bruegel's painting in detail, and how Icarus – once so full of life and ambition – is now nothing more than a tiny splash in the water. This serves as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of human existence. One moment we can be flying high, full of hope and promise, and the next we can be brought low by circumstances beyond our control.

Poem 3: Funeral Blues

The final poem, "Funeral Blues," is another elegy, this time mourning the loss of a romantic relationship.

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.

These opening lines are identical to those in "Stop All the Clocks," and yet they take on a different meaning here. The sense of loss and grief is still present, but this time it's directed towards the end of a relationship instead of the death of a loved one.

The poem is a powerful expression of heartbreak. The speaker can't imagine going on without their lover, and yet they know they must. They want the world to stop, just like in the first poem, but this time it's not because of death – it's because of the end of a relationship.

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.

These final lines are some of the most beautiful and heartbreaking in all of poetry. The speaker is expressing the depth of their despair, saying that even the most impossible things (like packing up the moon) seem easier than going on without their lover. The final line, "For nothing now can ever come to any good," is a powerful statement on the finality of the end of a relationship.

Conclusion

W.H. Auden's Three Short Poems are a testament to the power of poetry. Despite being just a few stanzas each, they manage to capture the most fundamental aspects of human existence. Love, death, and the passage of time are all explored with a depth and complexity that is truly impressive.

What's particularly striking about these poems is how relatable they are. No matter who you are or where you come from, there's something in these poems that will speak to you. Whether you've experienced the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or are simply grappling with the fleeting nature of life, there's something here for everyone.

In short, W.H. Auden's Three Short Poems are a masterpiece of poetry. They are beautiful, haunting, and deeply moving. If you haven't read them already, do yourself a favor and give them a try. You won't be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Three Short Poems by W.H. Auden: An Analysis

W.H. Auden is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for his unique style and thought-provoking themes. His poem "Three Short Poems" is a perfect example of his brilliance, as it captures the essence of human emotions and experiences in just a few lines. In this article, we will analyze and explain the meaning behind each of the three poems.

Poem 1: "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone"

The first poem in "Three Short Poems" is perhaps the most famous of the three. It begins with the line "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone," which immediately sets a somber tone. The poem is a lament for a lost loved one, and the speaker is asking for the world to stop and acknowledge their grief.

The second line, "Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone," is a metaphor for the distractions of everyday life. The speaker wants the world to stop and pay attention to their pain, rather than being distracted by trivial things.

The third line, "Silence the pianos and with muffled drum," is a call for mourning. The speaker wants the world to acknowledge their loss and join them in their grief.

The fourth line, "Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come," is a literal call for a funeral procession. The speaker wants the world to see their loved one off and pay their respects.

The final line, "Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead," is a powerful image of grief and loss. The speaker wants the world to see their pain and acknowledge it, even from above.

Overall, "Stop all the clocks" is a powerful and emotional poem that captures the pain of loss and the need for mourning.

Poem 2: "O the valley in the summer where I and my John"

The second poem in "Three Short Poems" is a stark contrast to the first. It is a celebration of love and nature, and the speaker reminisces about a summer spent with their lover, John.

The first line, "O the valley in the summer where I and my John," sets the scene for the poem. The speaker is transported back to a beautiful valley in the summertime, where they spent time with their beloved.

The second line, "Beside the deep river, too old to be crossed," is a metaphor for the depth of their love. The river is too deep to cross, just as their love is too deep to be measured.

The third line, "By wooden bridges where we kissed and passed," is a nostalgic image of young love. The speaker remembers the simple pleasures of kissing and passing over wooden bridges with their lover.

The final line, "The foolish, unremembering days," is a bittersweet reminder that those days are gone. The speaker is nostalgic for the past, but also aware that they can never go back.

Overall, "O the valley in the summer" is a beautiful and romantic poem that celebrates the joys of love and nature.

Poem 3: "As I walked out one evening"

The final poem in "Three Short Poems" is a haunting and mysterious piece. It begins with the line "As I walked out one evening," which sets the scene for a nighttime walk.

The second line, "Walking down Bristol Street," is a specific location that adds to the realism of the poem. The speaker is walking down a real street, which makes the poem feel more grounded in reality.

The third line, "The crowds upon the pavement," is a reminder of the busy world around the speaker. They are walking among crowds of people, but they are alone in their thoughts.

The fourth line, "Were fields of harvest wheat," is a metaphor for the passage of time. The speaker is walking through a world that is constantly changing, just as fields of wheat are harvested and replanted.

The fifth line, "And down by the brimming river," is a reminder of the beauty of nature. The speaker is walking by a river, which is a symbol of life and renewal.

The final lines of the poem are the most mysterious and haunting. The speaker hears a voice singing, "Time will say nothing but I told you so." This voice is a reminder that time is always moving forward, and that the speaker's thoughts and feelings will be forgotten.

Overall, "As I walked out one evening" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of time, nature, and the passage of life.

Conclusion

"Three Short Poems" is a collection of three very different poems, each with its own unique style and theme. "Stop all the clocks" is a powerful lament for a lost loved one, "O the valley in the summer" is a romantic celebration of love and nature, and "As I walked out one evening" is a haunting exploration of time and the passage of life. Together, these three poems showcase the brilliance of W.H. Auden and his ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in just a few lines.

Editor Recommended Sites

Multi Cloud Business: Multicloud tutorials and learning for deploying terraform, kubernetes across cloud, and orchestrating
Flutter consulting - DFW flutter development & Southlake / Westlake Flutter Engineering: Flutter development agency for dallas Fort worth
NFT Bundle: Crypto digital collectible bundle sites from around the internet
Cloud Training - DFW Cloud Training, Southlake / Westlake Cloud Training: Cloud training in DFW Texas from ex-Google
Roleplay Community: Wiki and discussion board for all who love roleplaying

Recommended Similar Analysis

Whispers Of Heavenly Death by Walt Whitman analysis
Ode To The Artichoke by Pablo Neruda analysis
Work by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Forbearance by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Holy Sonnet IX: If Poisonous Minerals, And If That Tree by John Donne analysis
Monet Refuses The Operation by Lisel Mueller analysis
De Profundis by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Rain by Edward Thomas analysis
A Work Of Artifice by Marge Piercy analysis
The Widow At Windsor by Rudyard Kipling analysis