What do you believe W. H. Auden wants to say in this poem about the nature of grief, 'stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone', W.H. Auden?
In the poem "Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone" by W.H. Auden, the speaker is expressing profound grief and loss over the death of a loved one. The repeated refrain of "stop all the clocks" and "cut off the telephone" convey a sense of overwhelming sadness and a desire to shut out the outside world in order to mourn in solitude.
The speaker's plea to "silence the pianos" and "muffle the drums" further emphasizes the intensity of their grief and the need for a public acknowledgment of their pain. The image of the "mourning doves" and the "scribbling children" highlights the contrast between the natural world's indifference to their suffering and the insensitivity of those who go about their daily lives unaffected by the loss.
Overall, the poem explores the universal experience of grief and the ways in which it can consume and isolate us from the world around us. The speaker's desperate need to "pour away the ocean" and "sweep up the wood" reflects the futility of trying to erase or escape from the pain of loss, suggesting that grief is a force that cannot be tamed or controlled. Ultimately, Auden's poem speaks to the enduring power of love and the profound impact that loss can have on our lives.