February 2001

Nomination: The Spirit Wooed [1950? From Collected Poems (1988)]

My favourite poem by Larkin is ‘The Spirit Wooed’, thought to be written in 1950. It reminds me of a time in my life when I too was caught loving somebody who had a horrendous hold over me every single day. I can see that is what Philip was reproducing in the poem, those feelings of intense frustration and sad misunderstanding, coupled with despair and confusion. Every time I read that poem I realise what a fool I was.

Natalie Taylor