15+ Must-Read W.H. Auden Poems

(15 to start, 30+ to explore)

Wystan Hugh Auden, born in 1907 in York, England, distinguished himself with a prolific career, producing about 400 poems and essays each. His verse, blending contemporary events with everyday language, drew inspiration from poets like Emily Dickinson, contrasting with his aversion to Romanticism.

Auden’s notable works include ‘Poems’ (1928) and ‘The Orators’ (1932), with his ‘The Age of Anxiety’ winning the 1948 Pulitzer Prize. His literary journey, marked by rich and complex poetic landscapes, continued until his death in 1973.

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Funeral Blues

‘Funeral Blues,’ also known as ‘Stop all the Clocks,’ is arguably Auden’s most famous poem. It was first published in Poems of To-Day in 1938.

Widely accepted as Auden's most iconic poem, 'Funeral Blues' has become one of the most commonly referenced poems ever produced and is one of the defining poetic renderings of grief and loss. The depth of feeling evoked in the poem is equal to that of any writer in Auden's era. The poem has been referenced countless times in other works and famously featured in the 1990s romantic comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral.

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.

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Nationality: American

Themes: Beauty, Death, Love, Relationships

Topics:

LGBTQ

Night

Form: Free Verse

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Lullaby

‘Lullaby’ by W.H. Auden describes the love that one speaker has for his imperfect “beloved” and how that love will be enough to content them both.

W.H. Auden's 'Lullaby' is a tender exploration of love's acceptance of imperfection. This poem stands out as one of Auden's finest love pieces, weaving a narrative where love triumphs over human flaws and the mundane. It delves into themes of unconditional love, the transient nature of life, and the dismissal of divine intervention in favor of cherishing human connection. Auden's masterful use of language and imagery elevates the poem, making it a poignant ode to love's enduring power.

Beauty, midnight, vision dies:

Let the winds of dawn that blow

Softly round your dreaming head

Such a day of welcome show

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Autumn Song

‘Autumn Song’ by W.H. Auden masterfully intertwines beauty with bleakness, portraying Autumn as a metaphor for loneliness, death, and insurmountable challenges.

W.H. Auden's 'Autumn Song' juxtaposes the beauty of Autumn with its bleak aspects, symbolizing loneliness, death, and life’s challenges. The poem depicts creatures lacking sustenance and absent angels, highlighting the season's grimness. Auden uses vivid imagery to illustrate life's transience and the looming presence of insurmountable obstacles. This piece is a poignant reflection on the complexities of life and nature, showcasing Auden's skill in weaving deep themes into his poetic narrative.

Now the leaves are falling fast,

Nurse’s flowers will not last;

Nurses to the graves are gone,

And the prams go rolling on.

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In Memory of W.B. Yeats

Amidst the sorrow of W.B. Yeats’ passing, Auden delves into the essence of poetry, pondering its purpose and significance in the lives of ordinary readers, questioning the very essence of poetic creation.

This poem is generally regarded to be among Auden's finest and is a fitting tribute to one of the twentieth century's finest poetic minds: William Butler Yeats. Auden made clear his admiration for Yeats during the latter's lifetime, but also saw fit to eulogize the great Irish writer in this poem. It contains some of Auden's most memorable lines.

Earth, receive an honoured guest:

William Yeats is laid to rest.

Let the Irish vessel lie

Emptied of its poetry.

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Refugee Blues

‘Refugee Blues’ by Auden portrays the plight of Jews escaping Nazis, using imagery and blues rhythm to highlight themes of exile and despair.

‘Refugee Blues’ is a good example of W. H. Auden’s poetry as it embodies many features which are specific to his writing. Auden focused on such issues as loneliness, war, and the position of a human being in the world, and this poem is a good example of how he exposed these themes to a wide audience using simple language and powerful imagery.

Say this city has ten million souls,

Some are living in mansions, some are living in holes:

Yet there's no place for us, my dear, yet there's no place for us.

Once we had a country and we thought it fair,

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Nationality: English

Theme:

War

Topics:

Violence

History, Irony, Mothers and Sons

Form: Free Verse

"> 86/100

The Shield of Achilles

Auden’s ‘The Shield of Achilles’ reimagines an episode from Homer’s ‘Iliad’ where Thetis watches over Hephaestus crafting armor for Achilles.

This poem showcases Auden's appreciation for classical mythology and the works of Homer but also demonstrates his ability to use those stories and characters to comment on his contemporary situation. The blurring of history, myth and the calamitous events of the twentieth century ensures the poem ranks among his most profoundly affecting and memorable.

She looked over his shoulder

For vines and olive trees,

Marble well-governed cities

And ships upon untamed seas,

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Consider This And In Our Time

Auden’s ‘Consider This and in Our Time’ captures a society poised on the brink, blending serene imagery with ominous undertones of political upheaval.

'Consider This and in Our Time’ exemplifies Auden’s mastery of blending sharp political critique with layered imagery. The poem captures the socio-political tensions of the interwar period, showcasing his ability to weave abstract concepts like repression and decay into vivid, almost cinematic scenes. Auden’s voice is commanding yet introspective, urging readers to confront societal fragility and impending chaos.

As the hawk sees it or the helmeted airman:

The clouds rift suddenly - look there

At cigarette-end smouldering on a border

At the first garden party of the year.

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Musee des Beaux Arts

‘Musee des Beaux Arts’ by W.H. Auden describes, through the use of one specific artwork, the impact of suffering on humankind.

W.H. Auden was a British poet known for writing about human nature, emotions, and society in a way that makes people think deeply. His poem ‘Musee des Beaux Arts’ is one of his most well-known works because it captures how people can be unaware of suffering happening around them. While Auden wrote many famous poems, this one stands out because of how it connects everyday life with the deeper struggles of humanity.

About suffering they were never wrong,

The old Masters: how well they understood

Its human position: how it takes place

While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;

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Nationality: American

Theme: War

Emotion:

Hope

Topics: God, Soldiers

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September 1, 1939

Amidst the turmoil of World War II’s inception, Auden pens ‘September 1, 1939′, echoing Yeats’ ‘Easter, 1916’, lamenting historical failures while hinting at future glimmers of hope.

Written to mark the outbreak of the Second World War, Auden had a complicated relationship with this poem, even going so far as to exclude it from later collections of his work. This only serves to remind us that writers do not control their literary legacies, as this poem is undeniably one of Auden's best and one of the most haunting poems of a century that produced countless contenders for the title.

And darkened lands of the earth,

Obsessing our private lives;

The unmentionable odour of death

Offends the September night.

#10

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On the Circuit

W.H. Auden’s piece, written in his later years, reflects his life experiences. It portrays a traveling intellectual, disillusioned with his reading tours.

W.H. Auden's 'On the Circuit' tells a story, similar to the poet's own life experiences, of a traveling intellectual. He spends his days going from place to place on what seems to be a reading tour, hating every minute of it. The speaker looks down on himself for marketing his work in this way and on the audience for attending his readings.

Among pelagian travelers,

Lost on their lewd conceited way

To Massachusetts, Michigan,

Miami or L.A.,

#11

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Night Mail

W.H. Auden’s ‘Night Mail,’ written for the UK postal service, presents its significance and dedication to fulfilling society’s needs.

'Night Mail' was written as a verse commentary to conclude the 1936 documentary film of the same name. The film was produced by the film unit of the UK General Post Office to raise public awareness of postal workers' significant services and hard work. It features the journey of a night postal train traversing the landscapes of England and Scotland. The poem complements the film by mimicking the movement and speed of the train in its rhythm. The documentary is widely popular and has become a classic in its genre.

This is the night mail crossing the Border,

Bringing the cheque and the postal order,

Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,

The shop at the corner, the girl next door.

#12

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If I Could Tell You

‘If I Could Tell You,’ a villanelle by W.H. Auden, delves into time’s role in life, emphasizing learning from mistakes and the futility of worrying about the uncontrollable.

‘If I Could Tell You’ is a poem by W.H. Auden, a poet known for writing about love, time, and human struggles. His poetry often feels personal, even when dealing with big ideas. This poem is well-respected but not his most famous. His best-known works include ‘Funeral Blues’, ‘Musée des Beaux Arts’, and ‘The Shield of Achilles’, which are widely studied and remembered.

Time will say nothing but I told you so,

Time only knows the price we have to pay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

#13

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The Fall of Rome

W.H. Auden’s ‘The Fall of Rome’ explores the downfall of civilization following World War II and the independence of India.

'The Fall of Rome' is one of the best poems Auden produced after the 1930s and takes the collapse of the Roman Empire as its inspiration. The timing of its conception, in 1947, and its use of anachronistic details ensures the poem can be read as a comment on the fate of all great civilizations, which allows it to retain its power in many different contexts.

The piers are pummelled by the waves;

In a lonely field the rain

Lashes an abandoned train;

Outlaws fill the mountain caves.

#14

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The Unknown Citizen

‘The Unknown Citizen,’ a popular work by W.H. Auden, satirically depicts a dystopian report on a man’s life, exploring individuality and government power.

W. H. Auden’s poetry often looks at the relationship between individuals and the systems they live under. 'The Unknown Citizen' stands out because it uses a cold, report-like tone to question what it means to be a good person in a modern world. It may not be his only major work, but it is one of his most studied and remembered, especially for the way it makes readers reflect on their own roles in society.

Except for the War till the day he retired

He worked in a factory and never got fired

But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.

#15

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Law Like Love

‘Law Like Love’ looks at the concept of the law in an abstract way and asks if it can be seen objectively and what different subjective views of it mean. It then compares this with a very different concept – that of love.

This is a good example of Auden's poetry, dealing with the themes that he often addressed in his writing. It also gives a good snapshot of a specific period of time - both in history and how the author was reacting to these things. Auden had become increasingly interested in philosophy during this period, and this can be seen in his musings in this poem.

Law, say the gardeners, is the sun,

Law is the one

All gardeners obey

Tomorrow, yesterday, today.

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