No Road by Philip Larkin
"Since we agreed to let the road between us
Fall to disuse,
And bricked our gates up, planted trees to screen us,
And turned all time’s eroding agents loose,
Silence, and space, and strangers–our neglect
Has not had much effect.
Fall to disuse,
And bricked our gates up, planted trees to screen us,
And turned all time’s eroding agents loose,
Silence, and space, and strangers–our neglect
Has not had much effect.
Leaves drift unswept, perhaps; grass creeps unmown;
No other change.
So clear it stands, so little overgrown,
Walking that way tonight would not seem strange,
And still would be followed. A little longer,
And time would be the stronger,
No other change.
So clear it stands, so little overgrown,
Walking that way tonight would not seem strange,
And still would be followed. A little longer,
And time would be the stronger,
Drafting a world where no such road will run
From you to me;
To watch that world come up like a cold sun,
Rewarding others, is my liberty.
Not to prevent it is my will’s fulfillment.
Willing it, my ailment."
It was still there after all these years - the road between us - so clear, so little overgrown. Did that surprise you as it did me?Standing at the gate, heart aching to walk it. I hadn't expected that - the pull towards you, like the roots of a parched tree to water. A world where no such road runs would be too cold. Promise me we will defy time - that it will never be the stronger. Will we keep the road between us and hope that one day it can be followed again?
From you to me;
To watch that world come up like a cold sun,
Rewarding others, is my liberty.
Not to prevent it is my will’s fulfillment.
Willing it, my ailment."
It was still there after all these years - the road between us - so clear, so little overgrown. Did that surprise you as it did me?Standing at the gate, heart aching to walk it. I hadn't expected that - the pull towards you, like the roots of a parched tree to water. A world where no such road runs would be too cold. Promise me we will defy time - that it will never be the stronger. Will we keep the road between us and hope that one day it can be followed again?
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