Poetry: "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden (read by Tom Hiddleston) (Poetry for Every Day of the Year)

"He was my North, my South, my East and West" 😢
Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden read by @twhiddleston
You can watch Poetry for Every Day of the Year on RUclips from 6 April. "
"Funeral Blues" by 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 forever: 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.
Source: National Theatre on Twitter
☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆
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[@wijcik]

The pain in this poem is palpable.

[@indigohalo3421]

My mother was 32 when my dad was killed in an accident at 36..this poem brings me to tears..it could have beed written for her..at 10yrs old I knew she placed her heart in the grave of her soul mate..she was 86 when she passed..she had to tried to live 54 yrs without him..💔

[@jilldew2196]

I am losing my husband to brain cancer. This poem expresses ... it all, with one exception. Love does last forever.

[@NicSpringer]

I just lost my husband, the light of my life, the joy without which life is not worth living. I wish - I had hoped- it were true that love could last forever, but oh God, dear GOD, I was wrong.

[@radhikanambiar4501]

​@@NicSpringerI'm so sorry for your loss and I send hugs to both of you 🫂 I know words don't make it any easier but I wish they could.. 🫂

[@Aaandrea11211]

@@NicSpringerI’m sorry for your loss. This phrase you typed sounds like poetry itself.

[@RebeccaHerrick-v1p]

We had this read at my dad's funeral. It still is my favorite poem

[@hamza_osteoblast]

I lost my father in 2017 and discovered this poem about two years ago.
Since then, whenever I remember him, I come to RUclips to listen to it.
At the very moment I confirmed the news of his passing, life became pointless to me. I honestly wouldn't have cared if the world ended. (I know this might sound selfish, but that's exactly how I felt.)
So I relate deeply to these lines:
“The stars are not wanted now,
put out everyone.
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun.
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.”
May you continue to rest in peace, Baba Alkali ❤🕊️

[@Womanwithblackdog]

I heard this for the first time in the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. It was brilliantly performed by John Hannah whose character was mourning the death of his lover. This is a reading and not the same as a recitation by a character. But Tom still gives the words so much sweetness and power.❤

[@markusjaegerliteratur]

Okay. Starting the day with tears. This still is one of the most beautiful poems of all times. Excellently performed.

[@jozephkerr2791]

Just an incredible read by Tom Hiddleston ! Hats off to you sir!

[@ThomasTaylor-oj5cm]

Absolutely beautiful its like hearing my favorite song with sad but beautiful emotion

[@HidingPlainSight]

...as only W.H. Auden can be ❤️

[@TheFiown]

I remember this poem from Four Weddings and a Funeral and it marked me then. For me love does not die with death.

[@roserandle6392]

Bravo! Very well read Mr. Hiddleston. Thank you for sharing.

[@franzlisztish]

Bloody Excellent!

[@subham8794]

Tears rolled down my cheeks 🥺

[@carlabernini343]

Such an agonizing pain so true!!

[@scottjohnson6173]

Losing my mother To Vaginal cancer. This poem it’s right on the head. It just sounds at all up and yes, love doesn’t last forever. It doesn’t end in the present passes. It continues it never dies.

[@rashaaljabi2025]

This poem is beautifully written and poignant ❤

[@ЛарисаМерзлякова-т9г]

I love Tom and his acting but John Hannah reads it best of all!

[@dwanderful1]

Awesome th

[@lenie.kreide4350]

This breaks my heart.

[@andrewjoyce9038]

I read this as my mother's body was being lowered into the grave last year. She died of cancer

[@billthon1099]

Great Poem

[@doormouse6865]

Thank you ❤ Perfect😢

[@maureenlaneski2802]

The Nemo Shaw songs makes me sob every time. I do not sob during songs. It is a choking, catching poem and song. The original cabaret version doesn't seem nearly as sad, but the lyrics are just...relatable. 😢

[@hntrains2]

A commendable effort.

[@AndersonHatfield-hk9qi]

Bottomless pit of grief.

[@purepotentialityNow]

Read at my Spouse's Funeral

[@tilunguyen9195]

i was crying

[@Natali25301]

რა საოცარი ლექსია❤

[@Книжныйчервь-я2к]

❤❤❤

[@susanburgess820]

❤️❤️❤️🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛👏👏👏

[@AdrienneCarolCasteleijn]

If they said this beautiful man will read to me I will take my death bed immediately. What a way to go listening to that chocolate voice. But he would have to read Dover Beach......ah love let us be true to one another...❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@pradeeppandey7228]

🙏

[@mathewwilkins4833]

Like

[@annahering123]

❤️‍🩹🩸

[@luciavitale5903]

How

[@soniagill3951]

He is no John Hannah.

[@Judewilkinsonjfk]

Bit miserable!