Tribute to Molly Parkin

Hello Poetry Lovers

Molly Parkin has sadly left us, and I couldn’t help but post a tribute to such an icon, and for so many reasons.

Unique and colourful, I read her books and articles relentlessly. I also adored her poetry.

I only met Ms Parkin once and I found her a lovely human being. So I’ve put together a fitting sort of poem here, from my perspective anyway. Do read on….

So farewell, Molly Parkin

I loved your book Love All

It made me blush profusely

And I learnt words like Felatio  

After your one woman show

 at the Bloomsbury theatre

You admired my white silk blouse

I could only blush and stutter!

You were so frank and open

How I fell about with awe

And you said the C word

You were never ever bourgeois

Full up, Up and Coming, Write Up

I devoured your written words!

Naively discovering you at 18

I became worldly by your third

Goodbye and thank you, Molly

Thanks for reading, PL’s. I hope it’s an apt tribute.

Thanks for tuning in, we’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon….

Larkin About

Hello Poetry Lovers

A Happy New Year to you.

To sum up the New Year, I have decided to feature a poem by Philip Larkin from 1974.

I have mixed feelings about Mr Larkin, some of his pieces unmove me and others have made my eyes moist.

However, this particular poem really draws up a new year for me. (And a great excuse to sketch some trees!). I’m afraid Dobby got in on the act as usual.

It is a lovely piece, so do read on…

The Trees (1974)

The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.



Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too.
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.



Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

Philip Larkin 1974

Wasn’t that a beautiful piece? If you have any Larkin favourites yourself, please write in.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry adventures real soon….

New Year Mischief

Hello Poetry Lovers

2026 already?! Good grief! I hope you all have a Happy New Year.

I’ve penned a piece below on our favourite subject – yes, Dobby! Do read on….

So farewell to you, the year of 2025

And Hello to a new year of ‘26

Many rich pickings and opportunities

For Dobby to get up to her tricks!

The Artful Dobby and her crowd of cats

and other dubious gang members

will have an intense search for mischief

Despite being still in disgrace from December!

Dobby hands out my cardigans

Fish nicks my best handbag!

Octopi pinches my Diet Coke cans

And Perry dresses up in drag!!

I snatch back my cardi’s one by one

Just by rattling a packet of Dreamies

And Pond Flakes for Fish, natch

While us humans knock back martinis!

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. A Happy New Year to you all