In order to set right the expression of *perpetual crabbiness* (if there exists a word like that) reigning supreme over most of my blogs, I’m going to post another poem. parag and diffdrummer, I know that I risk losing your readership but please persevere, for I am trying very hard to write something of my own creation. In between those bursts of *inspiration*, I rely on the Minstrels to keep my (b)logs burning. Too self-conscious/postured?
Ok, this is a familiar one. For those of you who enjoyed bumbling Hugh Grant’s antics with a flighty Andie McDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral, this may ring a familiar tone. It’s the elegy that John Hannah recites during the funeral of his partner of many years. It’s a lovely poem full of loving sentiment and whenever I read it, I always picture Hannah with a sombre expression on his face, reciting it in his quaintly accented British voice. It’s sombre, grey and somewhat reminiscent of rainy London.
Funeral Blues
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 woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
— W.H. Auden
fugney says:
Simpler than most poems “hehe” I guess the sentiment is important here?
October 6, 2004 — 3:44 am
Lakshmi says:
I think so… It’s the sadness of losing a loved one which forms the mainstay of this poem. My favourite stanza is the third one.
October 6, 2004 — 5:47 am
hollowandempty says:
i haven’t lost a loved one recently, but the last stanza describes utterly what I’m feeling right…now.
October 6, 2004 — 7:28 am
Lakshmi says:
I hope that the feeling passes…
October 6, 2004 — 9:59 am
kookygoblin says:
I like the first three lines……..
October 6, 2004 — 7:31 am
Lakshmi says:
The first stanza has such a strong sense of finality to it, doesn’t it? It almost seems to have a heavy tone to it.
October 6, 2004 — 10:00 am
kookygoblin says:
I think it expresses the sentiments of the greiver. I agree it has a sense of finality to it.
October 6, 2004 — 8:06 pm
shri says:
Like you, I love the third stanza. 🙂
October 6, 2004 — 7:47 am
arunshanbhag says:
very touching!
– i would be lucky if someone would read that at my passing.
October 6, 2004 — 9:09 am
Lakshmi says:
Same here..!
October 6, 2004 — 9:59 am
savyasachi says:
The expression on his face and his voice are what I remember best from that movie…..these touched me deeply – thanks for posting them!
How is everything going?
October 6, 2004 — 9:58 pm
Lakshmi says:
Everything is going as it should, Sid… Just that I am reacting like a kid! Jokes apart, I am all burned up over my MBA application, that’s all.
October 7, 2004 — 6:59 am
sekhar says:
First time commenting in your journal. Nice poem. Hopefully, crabbiness is over:-)
October 7, 2004 — 10:44 am
Lakshmi says:
Looks like the mood has passed…:-)
Thanks!
October 7, 2004 — 10:48 am