Philip Larkin, in his poem “Coming”, has contrasted the changes in his own life with the changes that occur in nature. The poem starts with a celebratory mood, set on a particular evening during the arrival of spring. As the evening approaches, the surroundings become “serene” and the humming of a “thrust “bird is heard. This humming symbolises the announcement of the arrival of spring and with that, nature coming back to its glorifying roots as a symbol of beauty.
Larking while overwhelmed with this soulful appearance of “nature” transcends back to his childhood self. His childhood which he describes as “a forgotten boredom” never had any meaningful experiences.
Thus, he lets his childhood persona experience this divine moment through his adult eyes. The rebirth of nature from its gloomy winter form to its soulful spring form has been contrasted in the poem, with the transcending into “experience from innocence” in Larkin's life.
The poet Philip Larkin begins the poem ‘Coming’ by creating a very serene setting. The first few lines of the poem commemorate the beauty of certain evenings. The whole atmosphere seems to be joyous almost like it is exhilarated at the supposed arrival of something. The houses have been bathed by the yellow shade of approaching evening. At this undeniably divine moment a thrust is heard singing. The bird with its fresh peeled voice seems like announcing the arrival of spring.
The poem itself showcases the advent of a new season and how nature seems to have reawakened to celebrate this glorifying moment. Thus, the bird announcing the supposed arrival of spring is directly linked with the main theme of the poem.
The poem is usually considered to be autobiographical. To understand the poem to its full capacity it is important to know about Philip Larkin’s life. Larkin always recollected the memories of his childhood in a melancholic tone, so it is plausible to say that he never had any happy or meaningful experiences in his childhood which could motivate him. Larkin even once commented that it wouldn’t change anything if his biography started from when he was 21. Thus Larkin describes his childhood as a forgotten boredom as the divine scene which he is witnessing in this poem is nothing compared to his dull childhood.
Completely immersed in the magnum opus of nature, who is celebrating the advent of spring, the poet leaps to his childhood memories which are signified as a forgotten boredom. The poet lets his childhood persona experience something so empyreal for the first time through his adult eyes. He compares this joyous moment with the reconciliation moment between two adults which apparently impacts greatly on a child’s mind.
This scene summarises how a child’s innocence works, as he or she is just living the moment to the fullest, by enjoying the union between two people. This can be compared to what the adult poet is experiencing at the moment, by savouring the heavenly beauty of nature, without having any other thoughts in his mind and just being happy at how the universe works.
Philip Larkin in his poem Coming presents his key themes by comparing certain metaphors and images. The singing of the thrust bird has been compared to the coming of spring as the bird in his fresh peeled voice announces it. The whole poem is celebrating the advent of spring from the dark and gloomy season of winter. It is almost like the rebirth of nature, which has found its glorifying beauty once again.
This certain comparison can also be linked with what the poet has talked about in the last few lines of the poem. The poet’s childhood has also been like the dark and gloomy season of winter, which he has termed a forgotten boredom. The divine moment that the poet is experiencing at this particular point in his life as an adult, can also be compared with the rebirth of nature. It can also signify the difference between innocence and experience as the poet compares his two selves.
The poem is a celebration of the jubilant mood of nature as it is going through its rebirth following the change of seasons that is from winter to spring. Winter in poetic terms is usually described as gloomy and dull, with no surreptitious beauty of its own. Spring on the other hand is symbolic of rebirth and regeneration. Thus, the first few lines Light, chill and yellow, Bathes the serene, Foreheads of houses signifies the appearance of spring and its effects on not only nature but humanity as well, as it lights the houses, with the approaching of the evening. Evenings during springtime are longer and much more divine and warm than winters, so it feels like nature is also welcoming this overwhelming aspect of the particular season.
The phrase fresh-peeled voice coming from the thrush bird, is used by Larkin to complement the serene setting of spring while the evening is approaching. The phrase is symbolic of the freshness that is in the atmosphere because of the supposed rebirth of nature. The thrust is seen humming in a deep bare garden, which is symbolic of the prevailing melancholy before the arrival of spring.
Q1. Where the bird is heard singing?
Ans. The thrush bird in the poem Coming is heard singing in the deep bare garden. It is surrounded by beautiful laurel trees.
Q2. How is the childhood of the poet described?
Ans. the childhood of the poet has been described with the phrase a forgotten boredom. It can signify how the poet in his childhood never experienced anything divine and meaningful as he is experiencing in adult life.
Q3. How is the poet’s feeling described?
Ans. The poet experiences nature in its utmost beauty with the arrival of spring and he feels like a child who fortunately experiences two adults' reconciling. A child is most happy when he or she gets to experience this particular moment.
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