Clocks and Lovers Prompt

Clocks and Lovers by W.H. Auden

In the poem “Clocks and Lovers” by W. H. Auden, there is a clear and concise difference in the attitude of the clock and that of the lovers. The poem is introduced with the lovers first speaking. This gives the poem the initial presumption of being a beautiful love poem where the lovers state that “love has no ending.” That statement is reinforced by the diction chosen by Auden. Auden uses phrases such as “brimming river” and “salmon sing” which in themselves portray things of beauty. This leads us to believe that the attitude of the lover is optimistic. He feels as if his love has no bounds and is not constricted by the rules of time. However, as the poem continues it becomes the clock’s turn to offer a rebuttal to what the lover said.

 When the clock speaks, there is an evident shift in the tone and mood of the poem. It becomes more serious and macabre. The “whirring and chiming” of the clocks provides the image of a slow yet steady paced movement. Also when the clock says, “In headaches and in worry/ vaguely life leaks away”, it can be taken in two ways. The clock can be literally talking about life or it can be talking about love or in actuality it can be about both. But whichever way it is taken it holds the same meaning, that time is eternal; it is the only thing that can be eternal. This provides us with enough information to come to the conclusion that the clock’s attitude is that of a more “realistic” one and also a feeling of being more superior

The two attitudes, the optimistic one of the lovers and the “realistic” one of the clocks, are clearly depicted and differ in a manner supported by the imagery Auden provides. However, the reason for this drastic contrast is not only to add to the beauty of the poem but to add to the meaning of the poem as well. It shows that love clouds the mind into believing the impossible, the impossible being “endless” love because in the end time will time will remain while something like love will diminish either due to a death or “crooked hearts”.