When getting my nose in a book
Cured most things short of school,
It was worth ruining my eyes
To know I could still keep cool,
And deal out the old right hook
To dirty dogs twice my size.
Later, with inch-thick specs,
Evil was just my lark:
Me and my coat and fangs
Had ripping times in the dark.
The women I clubbed with sex!
I broke them up like meringues.
Don’t read much now: the dude
Who lets the girl down before
The hero arrives, the chap
Who’s yellow and keeps the store
Seem far too familiar. Get stewed:
Books are a load of crap.
(Philip Larkin)
More Poetry from Philip Larkin:
Philip Larkin Poems based on Topics: Books, Education, Sex, Woman, Good & Evil, Heroism- Vers De Soci (Philip Larkin Poems)
- Tr (Philip Larkin Poems)
- Night Music (Philip Larkin Poems)
- When First We Faced (Philip Larkin Poems)
- As Bad as a Mile (Philip Larkin Poems)
- Library Ode (Philip Larkin Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Woman Poems, Education Poems, Books Poems, Good & Evil Poems, Heroism Poems, Sex PoemsBased on Keywords: chap, arrives, cured, ruining, stewed, crap, ripping, specs, fangs, dude, clubbed