I was chatting with a friend today about the poems of Philip Larkin. Larkin was, for teenage me, a gateway into poetry. Finally, someone who wrote poems I could really understand! Also for teenage me, Larkin's misanthropic view of life and love and illusion, his obsession with death, was very appealing. Definitely not a poet associated with Spring and New Beginnings...
But there is a genuinely positive poem Larkin wrote. One about a lifelong love affair of his - jazz. Larkin wrote a poem called "For Sidney Bechet" which is a love poem to jazz and New Orleans, a city Larkin never visited in person.
That note you hold, narrowing and rising, shakes
Like New Orleans reflected on the water,
And in all ears appropriate falsehood wakes,
Building for some a legendary Quarter
Of balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles,
Everyone making love and going shares—
Oh, play that thing! Mute glorious Storyvilles
Others may license, grouping around their chairs
Sporting-house girls like circus tigers (priced
Far above rubies) to pretend their fads,
While scholars manqués nod around unnoticed
Wrapped up in personnels like old plaids.
On me your voice falls as they say love should,
Like an enormous yes. My Crescent City
Is where your speech alone is understood,
And greeted as the natural noise of good,
Scattering long-haired grief and scored pity.
May all your Springs and New Beginnings fall on you, "Like an enormous yes"