Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Philip LarkinRead
I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing poetry is an intimate and personal experience that cannot be fully explained.
Philip Larkin's quote suggests that the art of writing poetry is as private and unique as the act of intimacy in marriage. He implies that attempting to dissect the creative process for an audience diminishes its authenticity and personal significance, just as discussing one's intimate relationship lacks the same depth when made public.
Themes
PoetryArtIntimacyCreativityExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a poetry workshop, the facilitator reminded us that explaining our processes can sometimes strip away the magic of our craft.
More from Philip Larkin
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Saki says that youth is like hors d'oeuvres: you are so busy thinking of the next courses you don't notice it. When you've had them, you wish you'd had more hors d'oeuvres.
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Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.
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Originality is being different from oneself, not others.
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I have a sense of melancholy isolation, life rapidly vanishing, all the usual things. It's very strange how often strong feelings don't seem to carry any message of action
Philip LarkinRead
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