"Stop All the Clocks, cut off the telephone"

"Stop All the Clocks, cut off the telephone" by W.H. Auden is a poem that the speaker uses imagery to set the tone for mourning of a loved one and wants life to stop. In the first line alone the speaker uses words like stopping the barking dogs and silencing of the pianos (2-3) to show the importance of silence as the coffin is brought out (4).

The second stanza the speaker implies that his loved one should be honored by having the airplanes fly over, doves wearing bow ties and the policemen to wear cotton gloves. The speaker wants is loved one to be honored and his death to be remembered.

"He was my North, my south, my East and West" (9) tells the importance of this loved one, he was everything to the speaker. The speaker also portrays that he was always there for him and now he gone.

The Last stanza describes how mad and angry the speaker has become. He shows hatred toward God the creator by putting out the stars, getting rid of the moon and sun. How can any enjoyment come from life now that his loved one is gone. Why not just be done with life all together.