Comment 5 of 5, added on May 20th, 2008 at 4:57 PM.

Reply to:Comment 4 of 4, added on June 13th, 2005 at 4:05 PM.
I thought I would point out that ur re-edit of Larkins poem was not quite so perfect there was meant to be a colon in the second setence of the first stanze.I have Larkins anthology 'High windows' right here in front of me.So before u start ranting on about people making such mistakes,perhaps you should get ur facts right first.

Anja from United Kingdom

Comment 3 of 5, added on May 4th, 2005 at 5:31 AM.

"One chased after rabbits; lost them"

Almost child like, men going to work who aren't grown up and ready for it. They are forced to leave childhood and enter an adult world of work and responibilty. A resentment of society Larkin often expresses through this collection.

"Shouldering off the freshened silence"

Making a new day fresh again as the last one is stales with the air from the pits and the slagheap. Maybe a reference to the workers lungs and the dust they have to inhale everyday, a new day, a fresh start.

"Through the tall gates standing open"

This is a sign of what will happen. The tall gates represent the pearl gates that close heaven and devide the dead from the living. Larkin is clearly doubting - and maybe even hoping - his own beliefs about death and what happens when people die. This is very optimistic of him compared to in "The Old Fools" where when you die "you break up: the bits that were you, Start speeding away" he is clearly certain that he does not know what will happen in death.

"Stopped chewing for a second"

This is the first time Larkin uses the word second, he repeats it later on in the poem to signify that though a second may seem like a long time to those who are experiencing the pain and who are suffering yet for others it's just another moment gone. Not even noticeable. This is like the world stopped for a second. The explosion effects everyone, everyone knows someone who once worked in the pits and whatever happens 'causes a blow across communities and shakes up lives all over.

In the sixth stanze Larkin uses italics to show that these are not his words. Maybe to show respect for dead and for the living effected by those who have died.

"It was said and for a second
Wives saw men of the explosion"

Their spirits? Memories? Only for a "second" though. This is the second time Larkin uses the word "second" to emphasise how the moment is short yet glorious to those who are involved.

The last stanza is mind blowing. The image of the men walking into the light once again. Always living onward. This is a huge doubt of Larkin's. This puts the reader into confusion of what Larkin truly believes. It is also ironic how he has put this poem at the end of the collection where he has spent the whole collection assuring the reader that he believes there is nothing after life and growing old is the biggest fear any man could have.

"One showing the eggs unbroken."

A symble of life. Life always goes on no matter what happens. A sign of fertility. And to show how precious life can be.

This is a fantastic example of how Larkin doubts his own ideas of life and death. Even though they are not his own words the fact that he says "God's house" maybe proves that he does have some religious beliefs.



Sylvie from United Kingdom

Comment 1 of 5, added on April 10th, 2005 at 5:19 AM.

This poem by Larkin particiularly puts an emphasis of the mining community of which he hrew up in. 'Shadows pointed towards the pithead,' shows a sense of imagery as if itis the finger of blame that is pointing towards the opening of the mine - shadows of people upon the ground go gradually thinner as they move away from you. The poem alsoputs an emphasis upon thje fact that the mining bosses were only interested in profit, and not thesafety of their miners.

Matt from United Kingdom