Like The Train's Beat

Philip Larkin

Like the train's beat
Swift language flutters the lips
Of the Polish airgirl in the corner seat,
The swinging and narrowing sun
Lights her eyelashes, shapes
Her sharp vivacity of bone.
Hair, wild and controlled, runs back:
And gestures like these English oaks
Flash past the windows of her foreign talk.

The train runs on through wilderness
Of cities. Still the hammered miles
Diversify behind her face.
And all humanity of interest
Before her angled beauty falls,
As whorling notes are pressed
In a bird's throat, issuing meaningless
Through written skies; a voice
Watering a stony place.

Next 10 Poems

• Philip Larkin : Lines On A Young Lady's Photograph Album
• Philip Larkin : Long Sight In Age
• Philip Larkin : Love Again
• Philip Larkin : Love Songs In Age
• Philip Larkin : Love, We Must Part Now
• Philip Larkin : Maiden Name
• Philip Larkin : Maturity
• Philip Larkin : Mcmxiv
• Philip Larkin : Modesties
• Philip Larkin : Money

Previous 10 Poems

• Philip Larkin : Is It For Now Or For Always
• Philip Larkin : Ignorance
• Philip Larkin : If Hands Could Free You, Heart
• Philip Larkin : I Remember, I Remember
• Philip Larkin : I Have Started To Say
• Philip Larkin : How Distant
• Philip Larkin : Home Is So Sad
• Philip Larkin : Homage To A Government
• Philip Larkin : High Windows
• Philip Larkin : He Hears That His Beloved Has Become Engaged