I have started to say
'A quarter of a century'
Or 'thirty years back'
About my own life
It makes me breathless
It's like falling and recovering
In huge gesturing loops
Through an empty sky.
All that's left to happen
Is some deaths (my own included).
Their order, and their manner,
Remain to be learnt
I am busy working to bring Philip Arthur Larkin's "I have started to say" 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 "I have started to say" transforms when verse meets melody—a unique journey that makes poetry accessible, engaging, and profoundly moving in new ways.