Summary Note
Chapter overview
Coming overview
Philip Larkin’s poem 'Coming' is a beautiful exploration of the transition from winter to spring and how this natural change triggers a deep, emotional response in the human mind. The poem begins by describing the setting of 'longer evenings' where the light is 'chill and yellow.' This specific imagery suggests the very early stages of spring, where the days are beginning to stretch, yet the air remains cold. The light 'bathes' the 'serene foreheads of houses,' creating a sense of calm and stillness in a suburban environment. A pivotal moment occurs with the song of a thrush. The bird sings from a 'deep bare garden,' and its voice is described as 'fresh-peeled.' This metaphor is powerful because it suggests something new, raw, and full of life emerging from the dead, cold layers of winter. The bird’s song is so unexpected and vibrant that it seems to 'astonish the brickwork' of the surrounding houses, breaking the monotony of the cold season. This announcement of spring acts as a catalyst for the speaker’s personal reflection.
As the speaker hears the repeated promise that 'it will be spring soon,' he experiences a shift in his emotional state. He contrasts his current feeling with his childhood, which he describes as a 'forgotten boredom.' This is a classic Larkin touch—instead of romanticizing childhood as a time of pure joy, he views it as a period of dullness and lack of direction. However, the onset of spring makes him feel like a child again, specifically a child who has walked into a room where adults have just finished an argument and are 'reconciling.' There is a sense of relief and 'unusual laughter' that the child doesn't fully understand but feels deeply. The speaker feels a similar sense of inexplicable happiness. Just as a child feels a weight lifted when peace is restored at home, the speaker feels a spiritual easing as nature restores itself. The poem moves from the external world of gardens and birds to the internal world of memory and emotion. It suggests that nature has the power to heal old emotional wounds and bring a sense of fresh start, even to those who usually feel cynical or bored. Ultimately, 'Coming' is about the restorative power of the seasons and the way the natural world can unexpectedly bridge the gap between our adult selves and our forgotten childhood emotions.