MCMXIV by Philip Larkin, Analysis, Summary & Text

Overview: "MCMXIV" is a poem written by Philip Larkin, published in 1964. The title of the poem is the Roman numeral for 1914, the year in which World War I began. The poem describes the innocence and naivety of the pre-war era in England, focusing on the summer of 1914. Larkin portrays a vivid image of the people and places of that time, highlighting the contrast between the carefree, leisurely life of the English people and the impending darkness of the war that would change their lives forever. The poem is considered to be one of Larkin's most powerful works and a poignant commentary on the loss of innocence and the devastation of war. MCMXIV (1964): Poem Text Those long uneven lines Standing as patiently As if they were stretched outside The Oval or Villa Park, The crowns of hats, the sun On moustached archaic faces Grinning as if it were all An August Bank Holiday lark; And the shut shops, the bleached Established names on the sunblinds, The farthings and sovereigns, …