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Home Love Poems

‘Stop All The Clocks’: A Poem by Radhika Soni

March 9, 2024
in Love Poems, Poetry
A A
18

.

Stop All The Clocks

after W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, stop all humdrum,
Silence the warblers, their constant hum;
Bid the sun to pause, just stand by
And the moon to remain in the starless sky.

He was my dusk, he was my dawn,
Stop all the clocks, now he is gone;
Quiet the hymns, the evensong,
I thought love would last, I was wrong.

Stop the earth, its constant spin,
Wring the brooks, subdue the din;
Draw the blackest drapes in the sky,
Tell every star to shut its eye.

Cover the hills in blackest shrouds,
Unleash the rain from the darkening clouds,
Scrape the rainbow, call truth a lie;
Prepare the coffin, let me die.

.

.

Radhika Soni resides in India and graduated with Honours in English.

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Comments 18

  1. Paul Erlandson says:
    2 years ago

    I absolutely love this! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Paul. I am glad you liked it.

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson says:
    2 years ago

    Such a beautifully crafted melancholy poem upon losing a love. Your imagery is wonderfully wrought and saddens the senses. This is a precious poem from the heart!

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      I am grateful for your heartfelt comments, Roy. I am glad you liked the poem.

      Reply
  3. Russel Winick says:
    2 years ago

    I think Auden would have enjoyed this. Good work!

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you so much, Russel for this motivating comment. I am truly honoured.

      Reply
  4. Norma Pain says:
    2 years ago

    Wonderfully descriptive poem of such sadness.

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you so much, Norma. I truly appreciate your wonderful feedback.

      Reply
  5. Julian D. Woodruff says:
    2 years ago

    These words have a force and immediacy that I associate with passages from the Bible. Breathtaking.

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you so much, Julian for reading and the heartfelt appreciation. I am truly honoured.

      Reply
  6. Shamik Banerjee says:
    2 years ago

    A poignant piece and I agree with Russel, Auden would have really enjoyed this. Well done, Radhika!

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you for reading, Shamik and the motivating feedback. I am glad you liked the poem.

      Reply
  7. Paul A. Freeman says:
    2 years ago

    This is excellent, Radhika. The pain of the narrator is palpable.

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you so much for reading, Paul. I truly appreciate your wonderful feedback.

      Reply
  8. Cynthia Erlandson says:
    2 years ago

    “Tell every star to shut its eye.” is my favorite line; but I love the whole poem, especially the way you bring in the way the sun, moon, and stars are a sort of cosmic clock. Beautiful poem!

    Reply
  9. Radhika Soni says:
    2 years ago

    I am glad to know you liked the poem, Cynthia. I truly appreciate your heartfelt comments.

    Reply
  10. David Whippman says:
    2 years ago

    A heartfelt poem about loss; and a worthy homage to Auden’s work.

    Reply
    • Radhika Soni says:
      2 years ago

      Thank you for your kind words of appreciation, David. I am much honoured.

      Reply

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