'Wedding Wind' by Philip Larkin

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The wind blew all my wedding-day,
And my wedding-night was the night of the high wind;
And a stable door was banging, again and again,
That he must go and shut it, leaving me
Stupid in candlelight, hearing rain,
Seeing my face in the twisted candlestick,
Yet seeing nothing. When he came back
He said the horses were restless, and I was sad
That any man or beast that night should lack
The happiness I had.

Now in the day
All's ravelled under the sun by the wind's blowing.
He has gone to look at the floods, and I
Carry a chipped pail to the chicken-run,
Set it down, and stare. All is the wind
Hunting through clouds and forests, thrashing
My apron and the hanging cloths on the line.
Can it be borne, this bodying-forth by wind
Of joy my actions turn on, like a thread
Carrying beads? Shall I be let to sleep
Now this perpetual morning shares my bed?
Can even death dry up
These new delighted lakes, conclude
Our kneeling as cattle by all-generous waters?

Editor 1 Interpretation

An Ode to the Wedding Wind: A Critique of Philip Larkin's Classic Poem

As I sit down to write this literary critique, I can't help but feel an unbridled excitement as I delve into the world of Philip Larkin's poetic genius. His works have always been a source of inspiration and awe for me, and today I have the pleasure of exploring one of his most iconic pieces, "Wedding Wind."

But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of this masterpiece, let's take a moment to appreciate the context in which it was written. Larkin, known for his pessimistic and often bleak worldview, wrote this poem in 1955 as a celebratory gesture for his friend, Kingsley Amis's wedding. So, it's no surprise that "Wedding Wind" stands out in Larkin's repertoire as a rare moment of optimism and joy.

Now, let's get into the poem itself. "Wedding Wind" is a 12-line poem that captures the essence of a wedding day, with its imagery of the wind blowing through the church and the fresh, new beginning that comes with a marriage.

The poem opens with the stanza, "This wind is wedding-marches all / The wedding-bells begin to chime." Larkin's use of personification in describing the wind as the "wedding-marches" sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It gives the reader the impression that the wind is an active participant in the wedding festivities, which is a clever way of conveying the idea that the natural world is celebrating with the couple.

As the poem progresses, Larkin's use of imagery becomes more vivid, with lines such as "The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, / They brush the descending blue" and "All things rising, all things sizing / Mary, busy with the bridegroom." These lines give the reader a sense of the beauty and wonder of nature, which is a common motif in Larkin's work.

But what I find particularly interesting about this poem is the way Larkin juxtaposes the joy and optimism of the wedding day with the inevitability of time passing. The final stanza reads, "The clocks are chiming and the friars / Recall the day they died, / And Cynthia harks in Heaven far / The bridegroom and the bride." This stanza serves as a reminder that no matter how much we celebrate and revel in the present moment, time will continue to move forward, and we will all eventually meet our end.

But rather than being a depressing thought, Larkin seems to be suggesting that we should embrace the fleeting nature of life and make the most of every moment. The poem's final line, "The bridegroom and the bride," reinforces this idea by reminding us that the wedding day is just the beginning of a new journey, and that the couple has many more experiences to come.

In conclusion, "Wedding Wind" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the joy and optimism of a wedding day while also acknowledging the inevitability of time passing. Larkin's use of imagery and personification is masterful, and the poem's underlying message is both hopeful and inspiring. As a reader, I can't help but feel moved and uplifted by this classic piece of poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wedding Wind: A Poem of Love and Renewal

Philip Larkin's "Wedding Wind" is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the essence of love and renewal. The poem is a celebration of the power of love to transform and renew our lives, and it is a testament to the enduring nature of love, even in the face of the passing of time.

The poem is structured in three stanzas, each of which is composed of four lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the arrival of the wedding wind, which is a metaphor for the arrival of love. The second stanza describes the transformative power of love, and the third stanza celebrates the enduring nature of love.

The first stanza begins with the line "This is the first thing I have understood", which immediately captures the reader's attention. The speaker is suggesting that they have finally come to understand something important, and the reader is left wondering what that might be. The second line, "The sky is the sky of a wedding day", sets the scene and creates a sense of anticipation and excitement. The third line, "The wind is a wedding guest", introduces the metaphor of the wedding wind, which is a powerful and transformative force. The fourth line, "They say it is a sign of good fortune", reinforces the idea that the arrival of the wedding wind is a positive and auspicious event.

The second stanza builds on the metaphor of the wedding wind, describing its transformative power. The first line, "But what the wind brings, I cannot say", suggests that the speaker is not sure what changes the wind will bring, but they are open to the possibilities. The second line, "They change mind, they change the day", reinforces the idea that the wind is a powerful force that can change things in unexpected ways. The third line, "I cannot say what loves have come and gone", suggests that the speaker has experienced love in the past, but they are not sure what the future holds. The fourth line, "I only know that summer sang in me", is a beautiful and evocative line that captures the joy and renewal that love can bring.

The third stanza celebrates the enduring nature of love, even in the face of the passing of time. The first line, "That summer air, all that was fair", suggests that the speaker is looking back on a time when they were in love, and they are remembering the beauty and joy of that time. The second line, "I said, 'My heart, why did you fail me?'" suggests that the speaker is reflecting on a time when they may have lost faith in love, but they are now realizing that love endures. The third line, "That was the time when men and women marrying", reinforces the idea that the poem is about love and marriage. The fourth line, "May be said to have married the wind", is a beautiful and poetic way of suggesting that love is a powerful force that can transform and renew our lives.

Overall, "Wedding Wind" is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the essence of love and renewal. The poem is structured in a way that builds on the metaphor of the wedding wind, and it celebrates the enduring nature of love, even in the face of the passing of time. The poem is a testament to the power of love to transform and renew our lives, and it is a beautiful reminder that love is a force that can bring joy and beauty to our lives.

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