Wedding Wind

The wind blew all my wedding-day,
And my wedding-night was the night of the high wind;
And a stable door was banging, again and again,
That he must go and shut it, leaving me
Stupid in candlelight, hearing rain,
Seeing my face in the twisted candlestick,
Yet seeing nothing. When he came back
He said the horses were restless, and I was sad
That any man or beast that night should lack
The happiness I had.

Now in the day
All's ravelled under the sun by the wind's blowing.
He has gone to look at the floods, and I
Carry a chipped pail to the chicken-run,
Set it down, and stare. All is the wind
Hunting through clouds and forests, thrashing
My apron and the hanging cloths on the line.
Can it be borne, this bodying-forth by wind
Of joy my actions turn on, like a thread
Carrying beads? Shall I be let to sleep
Now this perpetual morning shares my bed?
Can even death dry up
These new delighted lakes, conclude
Our kneeling as cattle by all-generous waters?

Analysis (ai): This poem captures the emotions of a newlywed woman on her wedding day as she struggles with the contrast between her initial joy and the overwhelming force of nature. The wind, a symbol of upheaval and change, dominates the day and night, disrupting the bride's sense of security and happiness. The banging stable door echoes her husband's absence, leaving her alone and vulnerable.

Compared to Larkin's other works, this poem explores similar themes of loss, loneliness, and the transience of happiness. However, it differs in its imagery and tone. The raw and chaotic nature of the wind contrasts with the more subtle and introspective qualities of his other poems.

In the context of its time period, the poem reflects the post-war era's sense of disillusionment and uncertainty. The wind's destructive force mirrors the social and political upheaval of the time. The bride's fear and confusion symbolize the collective longing for stability and meaning in a rapidly changing world. (hide)