In Philip Larkin's Sad Steps, the poetic voice reflects on the conflict between two different perspectives on the moon and its symbolic meaning. The poem centers on the moon and the divergence between the speaker's perspective on its meaning and the established connotations given to the moon in the poetic realm. The poem focuses on a recurring theme in Philip Larkin's poetry, youth and the cycle of life. Larkin, who is most likely the poetic voice, compares his human proportions and inevitable death to the majesty and timelessness of the moon. Through the use of ironic metaphors, contrasting diction, and a confrontational and cynical tone, Larkin makes a poignant reflection on the moon as a symbol of romantic deception. Through the use of contrasting diction, between light and dark, sharp and soft, colloquial and poetic, the clash between a myriad of emotions that the moon arouses in the speaker is illustrated. The poem opens in a very shocking and conversational way. The use of the phrase “Going back to bed after a pee” (1) creates a bold tone, which alludes to youth. This explicitness and vulgarity are rare for a poem and therefore distance the reader from the usual poetic and romanticized mentality. However, as the poem progresses, the exact opposite of this vulgarity occurs and highly lyrical and romantic language is used. Descriptions such as “absurd” (10) and “lozange” (11) and “medallion” (11), all allude to the poetic and exaggerated language used primarily by Orthodox poets. This divergence in diction creates the conflicted tone, which mirrors Larkin's internal struggle between believing in eternal youth and cynically accepting that life is meaningless and imminently tragic. Also, more contradictory......half of the document......this cynical truth. In conclusion, Philip Larkin creates a conflict between his “Sad Steps” and “surprised” attitude (2). The poem is based on a myriad of conflicting emotions that parallel Larkin's internal realization that there is no magical connection between him and the moon. He ignores the moon's romantic point of view and gives it a crude and cynical twist that represents his perspective on youth and the cycle of life. He has an epiphany that, whatever all the poets and artists say, the moon is ageless and majestic while the human species is cursed with the imminence of its death. Through the ironic metaphors, contrasting diction and unusual tone, the poetic character realizes that the beauty of youth is all an ephemeral deception, just like the illusory connection between man and the moon that all artists love to fantasize about..