💄 Mice poem. Mice Poems. 2022-10-27

"This Be the Verse" is a poem written by Philip Larkin that reflects on the innate human tendency to pass on negative traits and experiences to future generations. The poem begins with the lines, "They fuck you up, your mum and dad. / They may not mean to, but they do." These lines convey a sense of frustration and resignation at the way in which parents inevitably shape their children's lives and personalities.

Larkin suggests that this passing on of negative traits is an inevitable part of the human experience. He writes, "They fill you with the faults they had / And add some extra, just for you." This suggests that parents not only pass on their own flaws and mistakes, but also inflict new ones upon their children. Larkin's use of the verb "fuck" adds a sense of anger and bitterness to these lines, as if the speaker is saying that parents intentionally do harm to their children.

Despite this negative portrayal of parenting, Larkin does not completely condemn the practice. Instead, he suggests that it is simply a natural part of the cycle of life. He writes, "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." This passage implies that the faults and mistakes of one generation are passed down to the next, and that this cycle will continue indefinitely.

The final lines of the poem offer a glimmer of hope, as Larkin writes, "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." While the speaker acknowledges that the cycle of passing on negative traits will continue, they also suggest that one can choose to break this cycle by not having children. This final stanza offers a sense of agency and control over one's own life, despite the hardships that may have been inflicted upon them.

Overall, "This Be the Verse" is a thought-provoking reflection on the ways in which we are shaped by our parents and the ways in which we pass on our own experiences and flaws to future generations. Larkin's use of language and imagery effectively convey the sense of frustration and resignation at this inherent aspect of the human experience, while also offering a glimpse of hope through the possibility of breaking the cycle.