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….
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….