The Wikipedia says W.H. Auden is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century.
Like a lot of people, I’d never heard of him until I saw the film Four Weddings and a Funeral back in 1994. In the film, actor John Hannah recited a segment from one of Auden’s poems. It was at the funeral of his screen lover and partner and was a very touching scene. When my wife and I got home we looked on the Internet and found the poem and some information about Mr Auden.
W.H. Auden Society | Link
Two Songs for Hedli Anderson
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 crêpe 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 for ever: 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.
Read the complete poem | Link