An Arundel Tomb

Detail of Arundel Tomb in Chichester Cathedral

Full length view of Arundel Tomb

Additional view of Arundel Tomb

"An Arundel Tomb" is a poem by Philip Larkin, published in 1964 in his collection The Whitsun Weddings. It comprises 7 verses of 6 lines each, each rhyming abbcac.

The poem describes a medieval tomb that can be found in Chichester cathedral; the tomb is of Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel (d. 1376), and his second wife, Eleanor of Lancaster (d. 1372), with their dogs at their feet. He has his right hand ungloved, and her right hand rests lightly upon his.

In an audio recording of the poem, Larkin states that the effigies were unlike any he had ever seen before and that he found them "extremely affecting."^[1]

Larkin uses this scene to muse on time, mortality and the limits of earthly love.

It begins thus:-

Side by side, their faces blurred,

The earl and countess lie in stone,

and concludes

Our almost-instinct almost true:

What will survive of us is love.

Most commentators^[who?] see this final couplet as a positive affirmation, but some others^[who?] see in it a lugubrious Larkin-statement of the opposite (namely a weak statement of hope in the face of reality).

The poem was one of the three read at Larkin's memorial service.

See also

• List of poems by Philip Larkin

References

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