3. Coming - Poetry- Class 11 - Woven Words

BhashaLab
Jun 29
4 min read

Poet: Philip Larkin

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Poem (Nature / Reflective)

Summary

Philip Larkin’s poem Coming captures the arrival of spring and its emotional impact on the poet. The poem opens with a calm description of a longer evening light that bathes houses in a soft, yellow glow. A thrush sings joyfully in a garden, and its clear, “fresh-peeled voice” surprises even the surrounding brickwork. The song signals the arrival of spring, a time of warmth, renewal, and hope. The poet contrasts this vibrant natural setting with his own forgotten childhood, which he remembers only as “a forgotten boredom.” However, the present moment transforms him. He compares his feelings to that of a child who unexpectedly finds adults reconciling, not fully understanding what is happening but sensing joy and laughter. This innocent confusion turns into a spontaneous, unexplained happiness. The poem blends the beauty of nature’s change with deep emotional insight, showing how the simple arrival of spring can awaken forgotten feelings and stir hope in even the most indifferent hearts.

Character Sketch

(Not applicable)

The poem reflects the speaker’s inner emotions and nature’s presence, but does not include characters in the traditional sense.

Themes

Theme	Description
Arrival of Spring	The poem captures the changing season through the image of light and birdsong.
Innocence and Memory	The speaker reflects on childhood and how simple moments can bring unexpected joy.
Nature and Emotion	The beauty of spring causes a shift in the speaker’s emotions, showing nature’s power.
Transformation and Hope	The coming of spring symbolizes emotional renewal and the possibility of happiness.

✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Imagery	“Light, chill and yellow,” “serene foreheads of houses” create vivid visual scenes.
Metaphor	“Fresh-peeled voice” compares the bird’s song to something newly discovered and clean.
Simile	“Feel like a child” compares the speaker’s reaction to innocent, childlike wonder.
Personification	Light is described as “bathing” the houses, giving it human-like action.
Repetition	“It will be spring soon” is repeated for emphasis, showing certainty and anticipation.

Title Justification

The title Coming is simple yet powerful. It refers not only to the arrival of spring but also to the awakening of emotions in the speaker. The poem explores how seasonal change can cause a mental and emotional shift, leading from past boredom to present happiness. “Coming” symbolizes arrival—of the season, of birdsong, of laughter, and of a forgotten sense of joy. The title captures the quiet anticipation and beauty of both nature and emotional renewal.

One-Mark Questions

What natural event does the thrush’s song signal in the poem?
The thrush’s song signals the arrival of spring. It brings life and surprise to the quiet, cold surroundings.
How is the speaker’s childhood described in the poem?
The speaker calls it “a forgotten boredom,” suggesting it was uneventful and dull. However, the present joy helps him reconnect with lost feelings.
Why does the speaker compare himself to a child?The speaker feels innocent wonder, like a child stumbling upon an adult moment of joy. Though he does not understand it fully, it still makes him happy.
What does the phrase “fresh-peeled voice” refer to?It refers to the bird’s song, which is described as clear, new, and fresh—like fruit just peeled. It adds beauty and surprise to the setting.
What is the mood of the poem by the end?The mood shifts from quiet reflection to gentle happiness. The speaker is uplifted by the coming of spring and the bird’s song.

Three-Mark Questions

How does the poet describe the environment at the start of the poem?The poem opens with a soft description of a longer evening filled with light that is “chill and yellow.” This gentle light touches the rooftops of houses, suggesting peace and quiet. The environment is calm but slowly transforming with the season. A thrush begins to sing from the garden, surrounded by laurel. The natural setting prepares us for the emotional shift in the poem.
Explain the emotional change the speaker experiences in the poem.At first, the speaker reflects on his childhood, which he describes as a “forgotten boredom.” He appears detached or uninterested in his past. But the sound of the bird’s song and the coming of spring awaken a new emotion. He feels like a child witnessing something joyful and mysterious. This change brings him unexpected happiness, showing how nature can influence our inner world.
Why is the moment of "adult reconciling" important in the poem?The poet uses it as a metaphor to describe a moment the child doesn't fully understand but senses as joyful. This mysterious happiness parallels the speaker’s emotional response to spring’s arrival. The laughter in that scene is like the bird’s song—sudden, strange, yet comforting. It symbolizes reconciliation not just between adults, but within the speaker’s own heart. The metaphor enriches the poem’s emotional depth.

Value-Based Question

What can we learn from the poem about finding happiness in everyday moments?The poem teaches us that joy can come from simple, everyday changes in nature—like longer evenings or birdsong. Even when we feel disconnected or bored, like the speaker remembering his childhood, something unexpected can suddenly make us feel happy. This reminds us to stay open to beauty and wonder around us. Nature often brings peace and renewal without us even realizing it. The lesson is to pause, observe, and let small moments lift our spirits.

End

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