Aubade: Phillip Larkin's Haunting Poem on Mortality

The question of the single best poem written in the English language in the last fifty years is, indeed, an impossible one to answer. However, Aubade by Philip Larkin stands as a strong contender. This deeply reflective and emotionally resonant poem delves into the crucial topics of mortality and the inevitability of death, making it an enduring masterpiece.

Artistic Background and Context

Philip Larkin, a renowned British poet and novelist, was known for his direct and often darkly humorous verse. Written in 1977, Aubade reflects Larkin's characteristic approach to poetry, which often touches on deep existential themes. The poem is structured in nine stanzas, each with five lines, creating a rhythmic yet fragmented narrative of introspection.

Analysis and Interpretation

The opening lines set the scene for a sleepless night, transitions into a cold and silent dawn:

I work all day and get half-drunk at night.
Waking at four to soundless dark I stare.

Larkin's use of dark imagery and stark descriptions highlight the isolation and introspection of the speaker. The repeated phrase 'four to soundless dark' emphasizes the silent, lonely journey towards dawn, further accentuating the solitude of the speaker.

The central theme of Aubade is the fear of death, which the poet explores through a series of vivid and somber images:

In time the curtain-edges will grow light.
Till then I see what's really always there:
Unresting death a whole day nearer now:
Making all thought impossible but how
And where and when I shall myself die.

The speaker confronts the undeniable fact of approaching death, highlighting the inevitability of the end. The poet's preoccupation with death is not just fear, but also dread:

Arid interrogation: yet the dread
Of dying and being dead Flashes afresh
To hold and horrify.

The term 'arid interrogation' suggests a relentless and inescapable questioning of the self, while the 'flashes of dread' amplify the intensity and vividness of the speaker's emotions. The closing lines, 'Not to be heren Not to be anywheren Nothing more terrible nothing more true,' sum up the finality and absolute emptiness of death, leaving the reader grappling with the profound implications.

Symbolism and Literary Techniques

Larkin employs several literary techniques that contribute to the poem's emotional and thematic depth. The use of conformity in imagery and metaphor effectively emphasizes the isolation and the barreling speed of time. The poem's structure, with its regular rhythm and stanzas, creates a sense of order and control amidst the chaos of the poem's subject matter, making the poem appear almost structured in spite of its grim content.

Conclusion

Aubade is more than just a poem about death; it is a meditation on life itself. It captures the true essence of human fear and the existential dread that comes with the realization of mortality. Its enduring legacy lies in its ability to provoke intense emotions and thought-provoking insights into the human condition. Phillip Larkin, through his mastery of language and poignant observations, has created a piece of literature that can move us deeply and stay with us long after reading it.