The Poetry of Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin
In reading poetry, from many different genres, its seems that politically motivated verse seems to dominate, next to love that is. It also seems that poets have a desire to live in a different time, a different place. No one ever seems to be content with the condition of their world, yet, I suppose that is in the nature of humans. We all want something better or something from the past that we can't have. Wither it be the simplicity, the passion, the technology that we don't have, the peace that once was or the greatness that has long been gone, poets that are political in nature suggest a very personal, yet pervading utopia. Two poets who, political in nature, that were born in the same year, lived in the same part of the world, and who attending the same college prove to be an interesting contrast to one another. Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin are both natives of England and are considered 'Modernists', but what they suggest isn't a "better place" or a different time. Their work represents a change in attitude, from looking at what isn't to looking at reality and what is.
Of course, each of these poets has a different perspective, for there is not one single motive, desire or drive that can be defined as the essence of life. One cannot describe someone's work as being all or none of this or of that. What is interesting, though, is the subjective nature each poet has in their view of life and how that is portrayed in their poetry. Each one has a unique quality that sets them apart from the rest and each has characteristics that provide the reader with clues as to their perspective on life.
In reviewing the poetry of Amis, one can’t help but read Again...
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... Larkin, Philip. Collected Poems. Victoria: The Marvell Press; London: Faber and Faber, 2003. Print “Philip Larkin”. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. 8 January 2009.
"Larkin Study Notes." Chaeron.net. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .
"Philip Larkin." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .
"Philip Larkin." New World Encyclopedia. 29 Aug. 2008. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. .
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Poetry by William King, Martyn Lowery, Andrew Marvell, Liz Lochhead, John Cooper Clarke and Elizabeth Jennings
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...e poems are inspirational and make you contemplate and wonder about life his home life, the world around him, and his own personal feelings that are bases for his amazing poetry. Even though not all of his poems are based around the exact same thing they still have that deeper meaning that is great to have because it gets people wondering.