Maria Taylor (pictured below) was born in 1978 and is a
poet and reviewer from Leicestershire. She is Greek Cypriot in origin and
was raised in London before moving to the Midlands. She has had poetry
published in a variety of magazines including The North, Staple,
The Guardian and Iota. She has also reviewed for The TLS
and Sphinx, as well as co-editing the magazine Hearing Voices.
Her debut collection, Melanchrini, is available from Nine Arches Press
which was launched this summer at the Ledbury Poetry Festival.
 |
| Maria Taylor, poet and reviewer |
Larkin
I
September. Someone hands me a copy of Larkin,
thirty eager teenage faces search me for clues.
I will love teaching Larkin, I will embrace Larkin,
‘A’ Level Syllabi, York Notes, Spark Notes;
we’re going to crack this Larkin like a walnut.
II
October. Larkin has moved in. My photographs
are all of Larkin, the face on the television
belongs to Larkin. In the crisp mornings
birds are tweeting Larkin! Larkin!
Larkin!
It’s Sunday lunchtime, thirty essays on Larkin
scream at me. Was Larkin a
misogynist?
Was Larkin a misanthrope? Was Larkin a joker?
I give up and go in search of food. Larkin passes me
the leeks and compliments me on my choice of wine.
III
The term ends. We have done our Christmas quiz
on Larkin. ‘I hate Larkin,’ says a small girl with eczema.
IV
‘Tis the season to be Larkin. I go home with a suitcase
full of Larkin. On Boxing Day I drink brandy
and salute Larkin. I think I’m going Larkin.
V
Last night when I was asleep, Larkin was on top
of me again, grunting. His lenses were all steamed-up,
he enjoys the feel of the living, the way we move.
I fended him off with a hardback of New
Women Poets
and woke up, relieved to see someone else.
VI
You may turn
over and begin. Mr. Larkin is your invigilator
for today. I
raise my hand, ‘How do you spell MCMXIV?’
He clips the back of my ear with a
shatterproof ruler.
I draw a Smurf in the margin, I have forgotten
everything
there is to know about Larkin. He gives up on
me and leaves.
Larkin’s shoes echo noisily through the gym.
VII
August. Twisted. They’re opening little
envelopes,
some smile, some cry. A photographer from the local paper
takes photos of students throwing Larkin in
the air.
I’m better now, cured of Larkin. The girl with
eczema
has a lighter. I find a charred copy of High Windows
behind the gym with a used condom and a can of
Lilt.
Never such innocence, as I think someone once
said.
poem by Maria Taylor; reprinted online with permission by the author.
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