Born Quote by Philip Larkin
“The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said; The recent buds relax and spread, Their greenness is a kind of grief. Is it that they are born again And we grow old? No, they die too. Their yearly trick of looking new Is written down in rings of grain. Yet still the unresting castles thresh In fullgrown thickness every May. Last year is dead, they seem to say, Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Trees” by Philip Larkin, 1972
The poem reflects on the cyclical nature of life, using trees’ seasonal changes as a metaphor for renewal, aging, and inevitable death.
In simple terms: Trees symbolize life's cycles of growth and decay.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change and recognize life's cycles.
Themes
nature
life
renewal
mortality
time
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gardening
- personal reflection
- seasonal planning
- grief processing
- philosophical contemplation
Key Concepts
metaphor
cyclical change
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find renewal in personal loss?
- What does the tree’s cycle teach about your own growth?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook human agency in shaping destiny.
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