When getting my nose in a book
Cured most things short of school,
It was worth ruining my eyes
To know I could still keep cool,
And deal out the old right hook
To dirty dogs twice my size.
Later, with inch-thick specs,
Evil was just my lark:
Me and my coat and fangs
Had ripping times in the dark.
The women I clubbed with sex!
I broke them up like meringues.
Don't read much now: the dude
Who lets the girl down before
The hero arrives, the chap
Who's yellow and keeps the store
Seem far too familiar. Get stewed:
Books are a load of crap.
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why did philip larkin write this poem
From guest pamuk (contact)
why did he write this poem and what imagery and metaphor did he use and what lines where these on. -
From guest Glenn (contact)
I'm visioning the "clubbed with sex" line to be more talking about rape. "Ripping times in the dark" = ripping off clothes? -
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To guest Glen
In those days in England ripping simply meant exciting and fun. There was even a TV program entitled Ripping Yarns.
As for the rape aspect think of the opening line... getting my nose in a book. This to me paints a rather different image.
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Philip Larkin was an amazing poet even though he was a mysogynist, this poem demonstrates his versstility and unique opinions
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I have this vision of a geeky little boy (then teenager) getting all his confidence from books; he never really fought, and he never really "clubbed with sex" the women he might have wanted to.
The enjambement camouflages a very interesting rhyme scheme. -
I love this poem... I studied it for A level English... Superb use of enjambement and caesura
The "clubbed with sex" line is meant to be humourous as the second stanza represents Larkin as a teenager (and we all know what teenagers are obsessed with!)
The poem itself I think is marvelous!
Edited on Apr 04, 1:30 p.m. because ''. -
This is dark and menacing - strong emotions but the 'clubbed with sex' line - did not like this or the meaning behind the words.
Edited on Nov 28, 8:42 p.m. because ''.
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