The North Ship
The North Ship - context Summary
Published 1945 in Collection
This poem was published in Philip Larkin’s 1945 collection The North Ship. Placed early in his career, it frames three vessels taking different courses across a changing sea, using voyage imagery to set contrasting fates. As part of the collection, the poem reflects Larkin’s experimental, elegiac early voice and an interest in mythic or symbolic scenarios rather than straightforward autobiographical detail.
Read Complete AnalysesI saw three ships go sailing by, Over the sea, the lifting sea, And the wind rose in the morning sky, And one was rigged for a long journey. The first ship turned towards the west, Over the sea, the running sea, And by the wind was all possessed And carried to a rich country. The second ship turned towards the east, Over the sea, the quaking sea, And the wind hunted it like a beast To anchor in captivity. The third ship drove towards the north, Over the sea, the darkening sea, But no breath of wind came forth, And the decks shone frostily. The northern sky rose high and black Over the proud unfruitful sea, East and west the ships came back Happily or unhappily: But the third went wide and far Into an unforgiving sea Under a fire-spilling star, And it was rigged for a long journey.
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