Only in books the flat and final happens, Only in dreams we meet and interlock, The hand impervious to nervous shock, The future proofed against our vain suspense; But since the tideline of the incoming past Is where we walk, and it is air we breathe, Remember then our only shape is death When mask and face are nailed apart at last. Range-finding laughter, and ambush of tears, Machine-gun practice on the heart’s desires Speak of a government of medalled fears. Shake, wind, the branches of their crooked wood Where much is picturesque but nothing good, And nothing can be found for poor men’s fires.
I have read very few poems by Philip Larkin, but your close has prompted me to read more of his work. I absolutely loved that you know he is racist and that a lot of our parents are the same- archaic moral standards. I've been annoyed by my parents leanings on numerous occasions, and now it makes perfect sense! When I close read a poem, I tend to be swayed by what the poem is trying to say textually rather than taking into account the sounds and how they land. I have been trying to do the same and have found moderate success. But I'm learning from the best, thanks for sharing!
I'm so glad that my analysis inspired you to pick up some more Larkin. He definitely deserves attention! My first few reads are always textual also. When I feel like a piece grabs my attention, I really spend time trying to figure out why it grabbed me. It takes a while for me to explicitly spot sounds, and I spot new things with every read.
Although I read this poem a bit differently than you (Because I too, like Larkin was an old man even when young, and now am finally an old man, "flat and final?" Because I lack your erudition?) I found even more to note in your commentary than in the poem itself, which is saying something, because I find it a fine and splendid poem. And everything remarked and elucidated by your commentary was additive, that is to say, edifying. Thank you for writing this, Mike! Enriching! I knew not Larkin before, and now I have savored a crumb of him on my rough tongue, thanks to you!❤️
I'm incredibly flattered by your compliments. Thank you. I see myself in Larkin a bit as well, though it's more of his stance as a sort of disappointed humanist. You should definitely dig into some more Larkin. Start with his High Windows collection!
I could never articulate my fascination with Larkin, but your remark that he "...understood something about the human tendency to rot gracefully" sums it up perfectly.
I so enjoyed this piece and learning more about Larkin. My Dad was born in 1922 and some of his views were archaic then sometimes he was surprisingly open. I’ll have to read more now.
I have read very few poems by Philip Larkin, but your close has prompted me to read more of his work. I absolutely loved that you know he is racist and that a lot of our parents are the same- archaic moral standards. I've been annoyed by my parents leanings on numerous occasions, and now it makes perfect sense! When I close read a poem, I tend to be swayed by what the poem is trying to say textually rather than taking into account the sounds and how they land. I have been trying to do the same and have found moderate success. But I'm learning from the best, thanks for sharing!
I'm so glad that my analysis inspired you to pick up some more Larkin. He definitely deserves attention! My first few reads are always textual also. When I feel like a piece grabs my attention, I really spend time trying to figure out why it grabbed me. It takes a while for me to explicitly spot sounds, and I spot new things with every read.
Although I read this poem a bit differently than you (Because I too, like Larkin was an old man even when young, and now am finally an old man, "flat and final?" Because I lack your erudition?) I found even more to note in your commentary than in the poem itself, which is saying something, because I find it a fine and splendid poem. And everything remarked and elucidated by your commentary was additive, that is to say, edifying. Thank you for writing this, Mike! Enriching! I knew not Larkin before, and now I have savored a crumb of him on my rough tongue, thanks to you!❤️
I'm incredibly flattered by your compliments. Thank you. I see myself in Larkin a bit as well, though it's more of his stance as a sort of disappointed humanist. You should definitely dig into some more Larkin. Start with his High Windows collection!
I could never articulate my fascination with Larkin, but your remark that he "...understood something about the human tendency to rot gracefully" sums it up perfectly.
Much appreciated. Whenever someone pushes back about Larkin, I always drop the end of Dockery and Son because it is just him in his most distilled.
"Life is first boredom, then fear.
Whether or not we use it, it goes,
And leaves what something hidden from us chose,
And age, and then the only end of age."
I am glad I bumped into your Substack, Mike :)
Thank you. So happy to have you here.
I so enjoyed this piece and learning more about Larkin. My Dad was born in 1922 and some of his views were archaic then sometimes he was surprisingly open. I’ll have to read more now.
For sure! Like most things, it's not binary. It's all superposition. Thank you so much for reading.
Ps. Please let’s sit and talk about Larkin in person one day?!
That would be awesome.
Larkin 🙏🏻