Coming by Philip Larkin

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Coming

Philip Larkin

On longer evenings,
Light, chill and yellow,
Bathes the serene
Foreheads of houses.
A thrush sings,
Laurel-surrounded
In the deep bare garden,
Its fresh-peeled voice
Astonishing the brickwork.
It will be spring soon,
It will be spring soon —
And I, whose childhood
Is a forgotten boredom,
Feel like a child
Who comes on a scene
Of adult reconciling,
And can understand nothing
But the unusual laughter,
And starts to be happy.

Glossary

• Thrush – A type of songbird known for its melodious singing.

• Laurel-surrounded – Encircled by laurel trees or bushes, which can symbolize victory or poetic inspiration.

• Deep bare garden – A garden that appears empty or stripped of lushness, possibly representing a transition or waiting period.

• Fresh-peeled voice – A metaphor suggesting a voice that is raw, new, and pure, as if freshly uncovered.

• Astonishing the brickwork – The thrush’s song is so striking that even the solid bricks seem amazed by it.

• Spring: Symbolically, spring represents renewal, hope, and new beginnings after the bleakness of winter.

• Forgotten boredom: A reference to the speaker's childhood, which he remembers not with fondness but as uneventful or dull.

• Adult reconciling: Adults making peace after a conflict; a moment of emotional resolution.

• Unusual laughter: A rare or unexpected moment of joy that breaks tension — something unfamiliar but pleasant to the observing child.

• Starts to be happy: A spontaneous, innocent response to joy, even if the reason for it isn't fully understood.

Introduction

Philip Larkin’s "Coming" (from The Less Deceived, 1955) is a contemplative poem that explores themes of renewal, fleeting joy, and the contrast between human experience and the natural world. Through its imagery, structure, and tone, the poem presents a complex meditation on transience and the elusive nature of happiness.

Explanation

Stanza 1

On longer evenings,
Light, chill and yellow,
Bathes the serene
Foreheads of houses.

Larkin describes the longer evenings as a sign of seasonal transition, likely from winter to spring. The light is depicted as chill and yellow, suggesting both the lingering coolness of early spring and the golden hue of the setting sun. This light bathes the serene foreheads of houses, a metaphor that gives the buildings a human-like quality, as if they are calmly receiving the warmth and brightness of the season.

The imagery in this stanza sets the tone for the poem’s theme—an appreciation of nature’s quiet transformation and the subtle joy it brings

Stanza 2

A thrush sings,
Laurel-surrounded
In the deep bare garden,
Its fresh-peeled voice
Astonishing the brickwork.

This vivid and lyrical stanza captures a moment of unexpected beauty in a quiet, seemingly lifeless setting. The thrush, a small bird, begins to sing in a bare garden that is surrounded by laurel, which may symbolize peace, timelessness, or quiet reverence. Despite the garden being "bare" (possibly indicating winter or emotional emptiness), the thrush’s song emerges freshly and clearly — described as a "fresh-peeled voice," evoking an image of something tender, raw, and full of life.

The final line, "Astonishing the brickwork," gives a striking contrast between the living, dynamic sound of the bird and the cold, unmoving bricks of the surrounding walls or buildings. This suggests that the bird’s song is so unexpectedly powerful and alive that it seems to affect even the lifeless parts of its environment.

Ultimately, the stanza reflects on how beauty or inspiration — here, symbolized by the thrush's song — can emerge from quiet or barren places and awaken even the dullest surroundings. It touches on themes of renewal, hope, and the transformative power of nature and art.

Stanza 3

It will be spring soon —
And I, whose childhood
Is a forgotten boredom,
Feel like a child
Who comes on a scene
Of adult reconciling,
And can understand nothing
But the unusual laughter,
And starts to be happy.

This poignant stanza from "Coming" explores a moment of quiet emotional transformation tied to the arrival of spring, a traditional symbol of renewal and hope.

The speaker begins by repeating the line “It will be spring soon”, which conveys a growing sense of anticipation and optimism. However, this is contrasted by the speaker’s own emotional state: he recalls his childhood not with joy, but as “a forgotten boredom” — suggesting a disconnection from the innocence and vitality usually associated with youth.

Despite this disconnection, the speaker experiences a sudden emotional shift. He compares himself to a child who stumbles upon adults reconciling — possibly after a fight or period of tension. The child doesn’t grasp the full context of what’s happening — he “can understand nothing” — but he recognizes the joyful outcome: the "unusual laughter."

The key emotional moment in the stanza lies here: even without understanding the reasons, the child — and thus, metaphorically, the speaker — “starts to be happy.” This suggests a kind of innocent, instinctive response to joy, reminding us that sometimes happiness arises not from reason or memory but from a sensed shift in the emotional atmosphere.

Larkin captures the mysterious, almost magical ability of changing seasons — and by extension, life’s subtle changes — to awaken buried feelings and rekindle a sense of childlike wonder, even in someone who thought they had grown past it.

🔹 Introduction

Philip Larkin’s poem "Coming," published in 1955 in his collection The Less Deceived, is a concise yet evocative work that captures the subtle beauty of a moment of seasonal transition, likely the arrival of spring, and its emotional resonance. Through the speaker’s observation of nature and the unexpected joy it evokes, Larkin explores themes of renewal, hope, and the interplay between human emotion and the natural world. 

The title is deliberately ambiguous and simple. “Coming” hints at arrival—of spring, of light, of memory, or of an emotional realization. It invites the reader to reflect on transition, renewal, and anticipation.

🔹 Themes

1. Seasonal Change and Renewal

The poem is set at the beginning of spring, symbolizing hope, rebirth, and emotional awakening after winter’s desolation.

2. Childhood and Memory

The speaker experiences a flashback to childhood, evoked not through literal memory but through feeling—a moment of unfiltered joy and wonder.

3. Emotional Epiphany

A central theme is the sudden, surprising arrival of happiness—a fleeting but powerful feeling of emotional clarity, akin to a spiritual or aesthetic experience.

4. Contrast between Past and Present

The poem explores the temporal distance between the speaker’s current self and the childlike innocence that re-emerges briefly.

🔹 Structure and Form

• The poem consists of a two stanzas of 10 and 8 lines respectively, written in free verse.
• This open form reflects the natural flow of thought and feeling, mirroring the spontaneous arrival of the spring light and the emotional response it provokes.
• Lack of rhyme or strict meter allows Larkin to maintain a conversational, meditative tone.

🔹 Tone

• The tone shifts gently through the poem:
• It begins with serenity and observation,
• moves into wonder and warmth, and
• ends with a note of reflective ambiguity.
• There’s a subtle undercurrent of melancholy, as the joy is fleeting and possibly unrecoverable.

🔹 Mood

• The mood is initially calm and peaceful, then briefly becomes euphoric, before settling into a wistful nostalgia.
• Larkin creates a mood of quiet magic, like catching a glimpse of something beautiful before it fades.

🔹 Style and Language

• Larkin’s style here is lucid, understated, and imagistic.
• The poem blends natural description with emotional introspection, a hallmark of Larkin’s poetic voice.
• He avoids sentimentality, grounding emotional moments in ordinary, precise imagery.

🔹 Literary Devices

1. Imagery:
   Vivid and sensory:

“Light, chill and yellow, / Bathes the serene / Foreheads of houses”
— creates a tactile, visual sense of evening light.

2. Enjambment:
   Reflects the continuous unfolding of thought, helping the emotions and images flow seamlessly.
3. Personification:

“A thrush sings”
— the thrush becomes a symbol of renewal, with its song triggering a moment of clarity.

4. Symbolism:
• Spring light symbolizes renewal and emotional clarity.
• The thrush’s song symbolizes the unconscious, natural expression of joy.
• Childhood becomes a symbol of innocence and emotional openness.
5. Juxtaposition:
   The newness of spring is placed against the backdrop of emotional stillness or maturity, emphasizing contrast between then and now.
6. Alliteration & Assonance:
   Subtle use adds musicality:

“It will be spring soon,” people said,
The sibilance and repetition evoke a whisper-like quality, suggesting anticipation.

Critical Perspectives

• Ecocritical Reading: The poem can be seen as critiquing human disconnection from nature—the thrush’s joy is instinctive, while humans struggle to grasp it.

• Existential Lens: The speaker’s fleeting happiness reflects existentialist ideas of transient meaning in an indifferent universe.

🔹 Conclusion

“Coming” is a poignant, tender, and deeply resonant poem. It showcases Philip Larkin’s unique ability to evoke emotional depth through everyday experiences. The poem's simplicity of language hides its emotional sophistication, making it both accessible and profound. It reminds us that sometimes, in the quietest moments, the most powerful emotions arise—and just as quickly, vanish.