This Be The Verse, by Larkin

In this poem, I think the powerful of the language use is very talkative, because of it grabs

immediate my attention. I also think that the subject talked about is very taboo in our society because in

my culture, as a Colombian, criticizing family especially parents is very wrongly viewed. Usually, only

our parents are allowed to tell us our flaws, and we need to accept without protesting or trying to justify

ourselves. However, it had happened, to me personally, to think that my flaws were only make up on me

by my parents.

I think that the way the poem was cut is very interesting too, because at the second part, I feel like

the author tried to justify that it’s not our parent’s fault, because them too had to live their future

parenthood by the bias of their parents rising them. A lot of families had all kind of different backgrounds,

and stories of live, and some of them had a tougher life than others, some were richer, some were luckier.

All those factors build but a person to become a future parent. It may be very vague, so let’s illustrate a

bit: growing up in from age of 8 to 15 years old, I realize the relationship between my friends and their

parents was very different. They had a lot of let’s say freedom; go to out during school days, go sleep

over, spending money without thinking. I was not allowed to do so. I thought that my parents were a bit

mean, a little too much overprotective. After some time, I learn that many of my cousins who tended to do

the things I wasn’t allowed to do, had a hard time when they enter adulthood. I also learn that my parents

did those mistakes younger, so they thought that if they would have had the good guidance, they would

not have made those mistakes.

The last part of this poem made me realize that I agree with the poem a lot. I don’t want to get

pregnant nor to have my own kids neither. I believe that when someone gives birth, the child is born with

a mix of each family characteristics. I fear that my kid would have to suffer because of his impulsivity

because he heredity from me, a very impulsive and outgoing person. I feel that my kid would have a hard

time saying no to things, because it was a big problem for me younger. I also think that the other is trying

to expose the vicious cycles that society is in. We are expected to get a job, get a house, get marry, have a
kid. But it doesn’t always happen that way. More a more people are having trouble to get enough money

to buy a house, people are unhappy about their job, their marriage. Having kids is an enormous

responsibility, because literally a living person is depending on you. I could never feel that I have enough

strength to be able to be the support of another person. Even as a couple, I need my personal space, my

own little escape. When you have kids there’s nothing more of that desires escape, you are trap.

I still don’t understand the title, however because it seems to be so out of the blue. Usually when

we use the noun « verse », we use it in music. However here it’s poetry. There is probably a link between

music and poetry. Or maybe, it something we often see yet we don’t say it out loud, because we fear to

acknowledge it.

Reasons for Attendance, by Larkin

When I first read the poem, I love the way it was describing what the narrator was seeing. The

image is so clear thanks to all the comments he makes. I think that the one who surprise me the most was

the « face to flushed face », because the idea of having to divide that body part is unique. I also like that

the author uses all our sense. The sight with the description of the danseurs, the hearing with trumpet, the

smell with the smoke and sweat, the unique way of using the taste for the girls, and the touch with the

lighted glass. It really settles the mood for the poem, and it truly brings to live to what will follow.

I think that the narrator is an over thinker and an unsecured person. Because he really takes a lot of

time to just decides with, he wants to go in or not. He may be a little bit antisocial or many social

anxieties, because when he speaks to himself it seems like he not encouraging himself to do thing. It

seems more like he is really putting a stop sign to himself. However, this internal conversion makes him

happy because he says that « With happiness. Therefore, I stay outside, ». I think the narrator is a hopeless

romantic who just did have a good luck with his past relationship, and it left some scars. I just don’t seem

to get him though. The way he descriptive the scene, the effort he put into it, it should be enough to go

want to join them. I know I would.

Going back to what I said about the narrator being recently heartbroken, I think that his partner

was playing games with him, because at the end of the poem he says about « If no one has misjudged
himself. Or lied. » and if I understand well the « himself » is his own person. It clearly shows that he has

a fear to be misjudge and/or lied.

I had a hard time understanding a few lines like near the end « and they maul to and fro ». I also

did not get when he talks about « lion’s share ». It was very unclear why he mentions « sex » in his poem,

because I don’t get what it brings to the poem. I really like when he compares himself to the others,

because its strength the idea I made of himself, as a low trust and overthinking person. I think that Larkin

is most of the time easy to understand but, I have a hard time make the link between what he means really

and with his use of literary devices. The beginning of the poem was very good, because it instantly

grabbed my attention, however the middle and end, left me a bit disappointed because I expected to

follow with ease, however it got more confusing the longer it went on. I also find that his sentence is a bit

too long because it was hard to find the real meaning of what he was trying to express.