The Sound Collector Poem by Roger McGough

The Sound Collector

Rating: 4.8


A stranger called this morning
Dressed all in black and grey
Put every sound into a bag
And carried them away

The whistling of the kettle
The turning of the lock
The purring of the kitten
The ticking of the clock

The popping of the toaster
The crunching of the flakes
When you spread the marmalade
The scraping noise it makes

The hissing of the frying pan
The ticking of the grill
The bubbling of the bathtub
As it starts to fill

The drumming of the raindrops
On the windowpane
When you do the washing-up
The gurgle of the drain

The crying of the baby
The squeaking of the chair
The swishing of the curtain
The creaking of the stair

A stranger called this morning
He didn't leave his name
Left us only silence
Life will never be the same

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Rajnish Manga 30 June 2016

Never had an idea about so many sounds coming together for presentation of a beautiful and a lovely ensemble. Thanks.

10 4 Reply
Phil Soar 18 August 2015

Loved this. What an excellent slant on everyday noise!

7 5 Reply
Rajnish Mishra 20 February 2017

Neat rhyming. It is one of those few poems in which I don't find the verse form strained and constrained by rhyming.

10 1 Reply
Chandan Dey 22 May 2018

This poem will certainly inspires us to search sound in silence. Thank you for sharing this poem with us. Chandan

8 3 Reply
Robert Murray Smith 22 May 2018

This is the first poem that I thought was worthwhile from this poet. Great write.+++10

6 4 Reply
Bharati Nayak 10 September 2021

A stranger called this morning Dressed all in black and grey Put every sound into a bag And carried them away--What a marvelous poem---Different sounds put together in rhyme.If those sounds were not there what life would have been.

2 1 Reply
Mahtab Bangalee 22 November 2020

A stranger called this morning He didn't leave his name Left us only silence Life will never be the same ///stranger is always such type where something odd or puzzling sign left as bewilderment. beautiful poem penned; enjoyable

0 0 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 22 November 2020

'Put every sound into a bag And carried them away' - loved this unique imagination and wondered how life would really be, if somebody could do it! Heartiest congratulations on the poem's selection as the 'Modern Poem of the Day'!

0 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 22 November 2020

When you spread the marmalade The scraping noise it makes....call of stranger at this morning time is beautifully presented. Silence whispered to life. An excellent poem is well penned and a nice modern poem of the day is chosen.

0 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 22 November 2020

The most sought after imaginary magician who can take away varied sounds coming out of modern day gadgets and machines and mingling with the atmosphere, for creating silence for a while, has been wonderfully visualized. Good modern poem of the day.

0 0 Reply
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Roger McGough

Roger McGough

Liverpool / England
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