A poem by Philip Larkin, the right wing jazz-loving librarian.
I came across this in a poetry anthology when I was at school. My juvenile sixth-form friends and I thought it was great because it had some rude words in it.
This Be The Verse
They you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Duration : 0:1:3
[youtube qahT62n8tcA]
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
~*effing brilliant! …
~*effing brilliant!! love it*love it*love it
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Love the poem, love …
Love the poem, love the reading, love the jazzy finish.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Duh, the whole …
Duh, the whole point of Larkin was he was rejecting the notions of what a poet should do. He was traditonal in form (rejecting the blank verse of Modernism) yet used contemporary in vernacular (rejecting the elitism of Modernism).
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Thanks! It’s …
Thanks! It’s actually me doing the reading, but I think someone else has posted a YT video of Larkin reciting this poem.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
very very nice vid, …
very very nice vid, Larkin is an amazing poet, and i’v never heard his voice before, very appropriate
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Discovered this by …
Discovered this by chance in my high school English book and loved it. From what I’ve seen, this is one of those poems people either love or hate. Seems to me that the older you are, the less likely you are to write it.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Glad you enjoyed it …
Glad you enjoyed it – thanks for stopping by!
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Great reading. …
Great reading. Great poem. Thanks. I “discovered” the poetry of Philip Larkin about 20 years ago; “Church Going” was the first poem that I read in an Spanish translation: “Ir a la Iglesia” (I’m mexican; excuse my English!), that sounded simply beautiful. Thanks again.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
That’s interesting, …
That’s interesting, as Malcolm McDowell (Alex) has a Yorkshire (northern) accent, while my accent is more southern England/London. I’m glad you liked it – thanks for commenting!
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
when i heard it, i …
when i heard it, i thought it was the voice of alex in the oragne clock (kubrick).
And it made more sense, actually is that kind of personality
Sorry for muy english im a chilean girl who love this poem.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hmmm… How on …
Hmmm… How on earth is using the word “fuck” a “cop out”?
It’s a perfectly valid word within our wonderful English language and has been used in many great pieces of literature and poetry.
P.S. To PJ – is Gord divine then? ;o)
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
in the words of …
in the words of murdoc niccals
this be the verse couldve been a killer song but he never managed to write this be the chorus
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Glad you liked it.
Glad you liked it.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
LOL. Good one! But …
LOL. Good one! But I don’t think being told to off would’ve fazed Larkin much!
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Thanks for the …
Thanks for the in-depth and scholarly insight into Larkin, Silkcoolio.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Hi ‘thewordofgod’.. …
Hi ‘thewordofgod’…
For somebody with a divine tongue, your a bit silly aren’t you?How do you know he resorted to using the word ‘Fuck’. Did he lay awake for nights on end until giving in…’Oh bugger it, it is then’!
What does it matter anyhow? He’s putting in to words how he feels about his parents, not wondering whether he’s copping out or not. I couldn’t stop myself from saying that your comment is rather half-baked and a tad irritating. is a word.
Yours
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
what is this poem …
what is this poem about? is it about god? parents I don’t get it Can someone help me? sorry I don’t get poetry.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
bad language= …
bad language=colloquilalsim= a more accesible poem. sorry for nit-picking but i too am quite the larkin fan…………. a master of poetic form if ever i read.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
fuck is a pun, our …
is a pun, our parents do ‘fuck us up’ in a way.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
A good poem …
A good poem reccomended to me by none other than my dad LOL.. i enjoyed the reading thanks.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
A few of my friends …
A few of my friends at Hull University were told off by him in the Library….in 1983.. I think…they had no idea who he was…..I think they may have told him to off….I told them who he was . Funny. Bloody philistines.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Larkin’s a great …
Larkin’s a great poet, and no doubt about it, but this one has attained a fame far beyond its meagre accomplishment. Using the f word if a cop out for a poet of his stature, and I always regret he felt he had to resort to using it. Poets do not require street credibility like punk musicians.
wordofgord
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Has anyone got any …
Has anyone got any ideas for a dissertation proposal on the poetry of Larkin?
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
No, it’s me!
No, it’s me!
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Is that Larkin …
Is that Larkin doing the reading?