Water - A poem by Philip Larkin

Philip Larkin - Water

If I were called in
To construct a religion
I should make use of water.

Going to church
Would entail a fording
To dry, different clothes;

My liturgy would employ
Images of sousing,
A furious devout drench,

And I should raise in the east
A glass of water
Where any-angled light
Would congregate endlessly.

Added: on May 13th, 2006 at 7:45 AM | Viewed: 7004 times | Comments (6)

Water - Comments and Information
Poet: Philip Larkin Poem: Water Volume: The Whitsun Weddings Year: Published/Written in 1954 Poem of the Day on: Jul 8 2004 Comment 6 of 6, added on May 17th, 2009 at 7:44 AM. the fact that water is the essence of life is an obvious connotation behind the choosing of the title of the poem. But when looking into water it distorts an image. this idea of warp perspective is an important one on this poem. Water can also be destructive through tidal waves, tsunamis and floods. Chris from United Kingdom Comment 5 of 6, added on May 24th, 2006 at 1:29 PM. But is this poem a simple as we think? Specifically, is the meaning of this poem that water is our lifeline? It's purity, it's transparancy? I feel like there is more to it than that. What do you think? Meg from United States Comment 4 of 6, added on May 13th, 2006 at 7:45 AM. Larkin was not a man of religion and yet a lot of his poems have religious references. In this poem, Larkin, i believe, is saying that water is the essence of life to all living things. Humans are made up of water and the earth is covered by water. Not only is water the essence of our physical life, it can also be seen as the essence of our spiritual life. Its a great poem that clearly a non scholer, unlike myself, would never understand. Good luck on understanding the rest of his poems, if you can!!! john More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Water, has received 6 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Philip Larkin with others on the Poetry Connection poetry forum!

Poem Info
Water Volume: The Whitsun Weddings Year: Published/Written in 1954 Last read: 2009-11-21 15:22:17 Poem of the Day on: Jul 8 2004 Viewed 7004 times. Added on May 13th, 2006 at 7:45 AM.

Larkin Info
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