"This be the Verse" by Philip Larkin (poetry reading)

[Sharoney]

Trying to work up the guts to post this on my Facebook profile as a "fuck you" to my younger sisters, who think that when it came to Dad and (especially) Ma everything was fucking sweetness and light and magic unicorns and rainbows.

And oh, BTW, I don't have kids for precisely the reason given in this poem. And my husband, who saw both of my parents in action, was fully supportive.

[paulpellicci]

very scary art....good choice

[AngeleDeux1]

omyy... i have followed u a long time on here..and love ur voice above all for poetry...but hearing u cuss was too funny...esp saying it so seriously as u do w/same tone.e.tc. reading just the words i would say this was cynical but your voice gave it the human sensitive touch it needed to bring it home.. real good ..thanx for post!

[SpokenVerse]

@AngeleDeux1 Thank you. You should hear the things I say when you're not listening...

[FleetingVoid]

Your voice is just... well, quite frankly, your voice is fucking awesome.

[marianneotv]

well, well, I did not know anything about Philip Larkin....

For the kids, the advice comes too late! And there is some truth in this, sadly. But we also have to answer to our nature, and with some attention, maybe we can improve from one generation to the other? Maybe....

Thank you for this interesting video!

[novadrian]

Sometime ago I criticised you and you removed a reading as a result! I'd like to make amends. Larkin is a favourite and you do the poem justice. Great choice of paintings to accompany the reading. Larkin wrote in an ironic tone about his dislike for poems being read aloud, but I think he would be very happy with this. By the way, you sound like a cross between Laurie Lee and Landeg White (poet, whose online English language classes I took over at the Open Uni. here in Lisbon.)

[mnolanporter]

These are Count Olaf's dying words at the end of A Series of Unfortunate Events - you could look it up.

[mahogonywhisper]

Would be better without the swear word.

[SpokenVerse]

@mahogonywhisper How about "They tuck you up your Mum and Dad?" to be followed by "and then they read you a bedtime story and give you a goodnight kiss"

[mahogonywhisper]

@SpokenVerse If the poem was a private diary entry, then he's alright to swear as he pleases but, as I am a Christian, I do not believe that anything with /that/ sort of language should be published. Even if it is a true expression of his emotive disposition.

[mahogonywhisper]

@SpokenVerse I hope that you understand my meaning.

[MinorityMans]

Ineteresting reading. Personally, I found the poem to be morbidly comic, like an adult throwing a detached, ironically self-aware temper tantrum. Its a fine balance.

[KateBBify]

Maybe it would make PL regurgitate ... but I love to read this one aloud with an Irish brogue!

[longhairred]

One of those poems that make you wince and chuckle at the same time. *grin*

[thruthem]

godaam!

[liz1060]

heh -- a poem for antinatalists.

[paulpellicci]

As much as I believe he is correct, it's not as bad as it sounds. Man has developed into a better model than he could have, examples are many..

[MortQ42]

Agrees that parents screw up their kids (and different parenting styles/beliefs just screw up kids differently).  Does not agree that not having children of your own is a solution.

[scifiwritir1]

I can't help but like Larkin. Sometimes I want to shake him but..there really is something very touching and wonderful about him. That said, this is one of the best descriptions of original sin I've heard. 

[ArcadePerfect]

Particularly dour view, though written and spoken with integrity...

:D*

[ChristinaDarkRose]

Interesting view