Cut Grass - A poem by Philip Larkin

Philip Larkin - Cut Grass

Cut grass lies frail:
Brief is the breath
Mown stalks exhale.
Long, long the death

It dies in the white hours
Of young-leafed June
With chestnut flowers,
With hedges snowlike strewn,

White lilac bowed,
Lost lanes of Queen Anne's lace,
And that high-builded cloud
Moving at summer's pace.

Added: on June 28th, 2005 at 2:17 AM | Viewed: 5439 times | Comments (4)

Cut Grass - Comments and Information
Poet: Philip Larkin Poem: Cut Grass Volume: High Windows Year: Published/Written in 1971 Poem of the Day on: Jul 5 2003 Comment 4 of 4, added on March 17th, 2006 at 8:18 AM. Like Avril, I saw this on the Poems on the Underground and wrote it down immediately. I have it on the wall of my office and it reminds me of the hedgerows of my childhood. I love Terrence's observations on the reader's viewpoint craning up to look eventually at the sky. For me, what touched me most was the haunting tone of the poem; the way it talks about the nature's ephemerality. It made me feel quite sad, but was so very beautiful at the same time - just like those hedgerows. It's just perfect. Sophie from United Kingdom Comment 3 of 4, added on September 1st, 2005 at 5:35 PM. I like the way the poem's speaker begins by looking down at the grass where it lies, small and frail, on the ground. The speaker gradually looks up--at the hedges, at the lilac, and then, finally, upward at the sky. He seems to equate the seeming fragility of the cut grass with the billowing majesty of the cloud. I never tire of reciting this poem. Terrence from United States Comment 2 of 4, added on June 28th, 2005 at 2:17 AM. we are at school, and we had to choose a poem for english. I (Fran) chose cut grass. i decided this because its short, and easy to understand. Louise wants something longer. coz shes brainy. and strange. Fran J And Louise P from United Kingdom More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Cut Grass, has received 4 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
Cut Grass Volume: High Windows Year: Published/Written in 1971 Last read: 2008-07-18 21:55:23 Poem of the Day on: Jul 5 2003 Viewed 5439 times. Added on June 28th, 2005 at 2:17 AM.

Larkin Info
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