Philip Larkin — All catches alight

All catches alight At the spread of spring: Birds crazed with flight Branches that fling Leaves up to the light- Evert one thing, Shape, color, and voice, Cries out, Rejoice! A drum taps: a wintry drum Gull, grass, and girl In air, earth, and bed Join the long whirl Of all the resurrected, Gathers up and hurl Far out beyond the dead What life they can control- All runs back to the whole. A drum taps: a wintery drum What beasts now hesitate Clothed in cloudless air, In whom desire stands straight? What ploughman halts his pair To kick a broken plate Or coin turned up by the share? What lovers worry much That a ghost bids them touch? A drum taps: a wintry drum Let the wheel spin out, Till all created things With shout and answering shout Cast off rememberings ; Let it all come about Till centuries of springs And all their buried men Stand on the earth again. A drum taps: a wintry drum.