Wants
Philip Arthur Larkin
1922 to 1985
Beyond all this, the wish to be alone:
However the sky grows dark with invitation-cards
However we follow the printed directions of sex
However the family is photographed under the flagstaff —
Beyond all this, the wish to be alone.
Beneath it all, desire of oblivion runs:
Despite the artful tensions of the calendar,
The life insurance, the tabled fertility riles,
The costly aversion of the eyes from death —
Beneath it all, desire of oblivion runs.
Philip Arthur Larkin's Wants
I am busy working to bring Philip Arthur Larkin's "Wants" 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.
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