A recent conversation with kleinbl00 here about abusive parenting brought this poem to mind. Queen Elizabeth II offered, the author, Philip Larkin, the position of poet laureate in 1984, but he turned it down.
This Be The Verse
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
And add some extra, just for you.
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
And half at one another's throats.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
And don't have any kids yourself.A large part of me considers this frequently.And don't have any kids yourself.
You ain't alone, brother. Though I have to admit I'm amused by the way you phrase it; after all, "not doing something" is often done, by, well - not doing it - instead of considering not doing it :) I assume you are childless, and speak in terms of your future, as opposed to your present.
bfv's teacher clearly wanted them to read it! btw, it's amazing how easy this poem is to memorize and how often it seems appropriate to recite it in a group. For the record, I believe this poem deserves a poetic response, along the lines of:They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They give you life, it's not all bad.
Stop blaming them by 22.
Please continue, poets of hubski humanodon; flagamuffin; rezzeJ
Check thread here
It reminds me of the Brian Jonestown Massacre song, The Devil May Care. I've always had trouble working in material about my parents or the idea of parenting into poems, but I think it's worth exploring.