Night-music

Philip Larkin

At one the wind rose,
And with it the noise
Of the black poplars.

Long since had the living
By a thin twine
Been led into their dreams
Where lanterns shine
Under a still veil
Of falling streams;
Long since had the dead
Become untroubled
In the light soil.
There were no mouths
To drink of the wind,
Nor any eyes
To sharpen on the stars'
Wide heaven-holding,
Only the sound
Long sibilant-muscled trees
Were lifting up, the black poplars.

And in their blazing solitude
The stars sang in their sockets through
the night:
`Blow bright, blow bright
The coal of this unquickened world.'

Next 10 Poems

• Philip Larkin : No Road
• Philip Larkin : Nothing To Be Said
• Philip Larkin : Poetry Of Departures
• Philip Larkin : Reasons For Attendance
• Philip Larkin : Sad Steps
• Philip Larkin : Send No Money
• Philip Larkin : Since The Majority Of Me
• Philip Larkin : Skin
• Philip Larkin : Solar
• Philip Larkin : Story

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• Philip Larkin : Next, Please
• Philip Larkin : New Eyes Each Year
• Philip Larkin : Myxomatosis
• Philip Larkin : Mr Bleaney
• Philip Larkin : Mother, Summer, I
• Philip Larkin : Money
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