Sun Tree. Beginning God in a thicket. Crown.
Never-abdicated constellation Blood.
Barn-clutch of life Trigger of the future.
Magic weed the doctor shakes in the dance
Many rains and many rivers, making one river
Password. Installation Root of tongues.
Working-place to which the small seed is guided,
Inlet unvisited by marine biologist,
Entire alternative in man and woman
Opening at a touch like a water-flower,
New voice saying new words at a new speed
From which the future erupts like struck oil,
No one can migrate across your boundaries.
No one can exist without a habit for you
No one can tear your thread out of himself.
No one can tie you down or set you free
Apart from your tribe, there is only the dead,
And even them you grip and begin to use.
I am busy working to bring Philip Arthur Larkin's "Oil" to life through some unique musical arrangements and will have a full analysis of the poem here for you later.
In the meantime, I invite you to explore the poem's themes, structure, and meaning. You can also check out the gallery for other musical arrangements or learn more about Philip Arthur Larkin's life and contributions to literature.
Check back soon to experience how "Oil" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.