[IN THE VOICE OF ITALO CALVINO]: “You are about to begin reading [Philip Larkin’s This Be The Verse.] Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you face. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the next room. Tell the others right away, “No, I don’t want to watch TV!” Raise your voice—they wont hear you otherwise—“I’m reading! I don’t want to be disturbed!” Maybe they haven’t heard you, with all that racket; speak louder, yell: I’m beginning to read [Philip Larkin’s This Be The Verse.] Or if you prefer, don’t say anything; just hope they’ll leave you alone.”
No, but seriously, I’d like you to listen to Philip Larkin reading his poem “This Be The Verse” And as you listen, read along, line by line, so you can get the feel of his prose. I’ve included a few images along the way to help you understand the meaning of his poem.
Let’s get to it.
They fuck 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 fucked 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.