English Poet Philip Larkin (1922-1985)

The reputation of Philip Larkin seems to grow year by year, to the extent that he is considered one of the best British poets of the last century. Here is one of my favorites among his poems:

This Be the Verse

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.