Section 5 Summary

The Early Poems 1938-45 are a collection of Larkin's work before his first published collection which took place in 1951.

The first of four poems are dedicated to the seasons.

The first poem, "Winter Nocturne," was published in the Coventrian in 1938. The poem speaks of the night in late December, when there is nothing outside but silence and mist. The dark creeps in, silent like death, and one can only remember the green trees and faded summers.

The second poem, "Fragment from May," was also published in the Coventrian in 1938. Larkin speaks of how winter reluctantly withdraws and instead is replaced with bright colors and flowers "leaping and laughing in the boist'rous wind." The poet compares the new greenery and blossoms to the freshness of a child's cheek.

The third poem, "Summer Nocturne," was published in the Coventrian in 1939. The poet talks about the...