The poem
The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found A hedgehog jammed up against the blades, Killed. It had been in the long grass.
I had seen it before, and even fed it, once. Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world Unmendably. Burial was no help:
Next morning I got up and it did not. The first day after a death, the new absence Is always the same; we should be careful
Of each other, we should be kind While there is still time.
This morning I listened to Tom Courtney, interviewed by Parkinson, he related the The Mower. I thought how right Larkin was, there is little time and we should be careful how we treat people,espicially those we love.
like the previous commentator, Lyn, I too heard this poem on the Parkinson show. Tom Courtney read it so well and with feeling.
I particularly like it because Larkin recounts his sadness at the death of a fellow creature. The end of any life, regardless of the species is sad and larkin acknowledges this and doesn't belittle the existance of such a small creature. It touches the soul.
it is beautiful. I intend to read it at the memorial service of a beautiful friend
it is simply a beautiful poem which pierced my heart like an arrow in a bulls-eye. thank you mr. larkin.
A friend sent me this poem and I was quite moved. Given a collective sadness due to the disaster recently visited on our gulf region, I opened a college class I teach by reading it. Several students teared up. I hope that is testimony how powerful Larkin's sentiment is for humans generally.
I am reading this poem for a much loved colleague at his funeral service. It is particularly appropriate for a loving man and reflects his sensitivity for those not so able to defend themselves.
The accomplished simplicity of this poem is stunning-it's beauty and profundity lie not in obscure references, but in an honest message honestly expressed. For me, the lack of pretension and directness of feeling are what make it so affecting.
Mr. Larkin shows us that we should respect all life. It is strange to me just how much and how little respect humans have for each other and for nature. I guess it all depends on where one is on the food chain.
This poem was first published in "Humberside", the magazine of the Hull Literary Club, Autumn 1979. I used the poem's ending for an article I wrote for "About Larkin", the journal of the Philip Larkin Society, No.22, October 2006,describing a commemoration of the life of Maeve Brennan, held at Hull University on October 18th 2003. I felt that the words remind us that no matter how much we praise people when they…
Read the whole commentThis poem was first published in "Humberside", the magazine of the Hull Literary Club, Autumn 1979.
I used the poem's ending for an article I wrote for "About Larkin", the journal of the Philip Larkin Society, No.22, October 2006,describing a commemoration of the life of Maeve Brennan, held at Hull University on October 18th 2003. I felt that the words remind us that no matter how much we praise people when they have died we should let them know how much we love them when they are still alive.
Larkin had developed an affection for the hedgehog he accidentally killed. He had photographed it drinking from a saucer in his back garden. Thr photograph is kept in the Hull University archives and appears on the front cover of "About Larkin2 No 22, October 2006.
Very important information
In truth, immediately i didn't understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.
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