Love/Death Poetry

Hello again readers,

This post is about poetry that tells someone just how much you love/d them. There is a poem by W H Auden, called Funeral Blues. I would explain what it's about, but I think the title speaks for itself. This is how it goes:

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 wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good.

This poem is meant for funerals, but it can also be used as a declaration of love. Even if someone is not deceased, they can still take meaning from this poem, as what it would mean to the person performing, if they were to die.

Spoiler Alert! - For 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'

For example, the poem is used in the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', by Matthew at Gareth's funeral. He and Gareth were married (or at least together), which made Gareth's death very hard for Matthew. This poem showed just how much he cared for his partner, and how badly it had affected him.

Think about the person you love most, wether it be romantically or platonically, how would you feel if they perished? Could this poem reflect your feelings?

'I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.'

This is my favourite line of the poem; however, I disagree.

Love does last forever. In one way or another, love will continue to enrich our lives. Even if we have lost someone we loved, who loved us, we will always have our friends and family, who will stick by us whatever state we are in. If their love is strong enough, it will cover over the wound in our hearts until it learns how to heal. If it is a partner who you have lost, love is not impossible now that they are gone. It may take time, but you can love again. Matthew, in 'Four Weddings..' is shown at the end of the film with a man, who is clearly his new boyfriend. He looks happy.

Remember this. Happiness is always possible. Love is always possible.

Catch you later,

E.V. x

p.s. here's the link for the video of Gareth's funeral

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDXWclpGhcg