The Philip Larkin Society

Naturally the Foundation will Bear Your Expenses - September 2008

Chosen by Carole Collison

Hurrying to catch my Comet
One dark November day,
Which soon would snatch me from it
To the sunshine of Bombay,
I pondered pages Berkeley
Not three weeks since had heard,
Perceiving Chatto darkly
Through the mirror of the Third.

Crowds, colourless and careworn,
Had made my taxi late,
Yet not till I was airborne
Did I recall the date –
That day when Queen and Minister
And Band of Guards and all
Still act their solemn-sinister
Wreath-rubbish in Whitehall.

It used to make me throw up,
These mawkish nursery games:
O when will England grow up?
- But I outsoar the Thames,
And dwindle off down Auster
To greet Professor Lal
(He once met Morgan Forster),
My contact and my pal.

© The estate of Philip Larkin

I have chosen this poem because it amuses me. I have been a 'university wife' for over 40 years and also read English at Hull University. I like Larkin's tongue-in-cheek portrait of a certain type of academic; the way he highlights the pomposity and self-importance that can be a feature of the academic world (and all others too of course). The title alone with its use of formality and capital letters alerts us to the pretentiousness of what will follow. This character is full of his own self-worth as he leaves the greyness of England behind and 'hurries' to catch his Comet. What a busy man! Comet aircraft at that time that this poem was written (1961) were so new and upmarket – they were the Concords of their time. Travelling by Comet highlights the status of this person – it also suggests that the cost of such a trip will be considerable.

Our man in the poem is a frequent conference attender by the sounds of things. He has recently given the same paper in America at Berkeley, the University of California, only three weeks previously. He has every intention of wringing the last drops out of his efforts to write the paper in the first place as he also contemplates it being broadcast on Radio 3 where he will be conscious of his own reflected glory in the 'mirror of the Third' and subsequently published (he hopes) by Chatto & Windus.

The stark contrast between the smug academic and the 'colourless and careworn' crowds which irritate the man by holding up his taxi is highlighted by the alliteration. So wrapped up in his own affairs is our academic that he has not noticed, 'until I was airborne' that the date is a significant one. The crowds were attending the Remembrance Day Service when the Queen and Country remembers and respects those who have lost their lives in war. There is no indication of a year in which the action of the poem takes place; however, in the 1960s England was still recovering from the effects of the Second World War which had ended less than twenty years previously. The attitude of this man to the Remembrance Day Service in Whitehall is thus shocking in its lack of empathy and respect. The word 'outsoar' in the next stanza too emphases his feelings of superiority as he leaves behind the real world of the aftermath of war, people struggling to come to terms with loss, bereavement and hard times as he 'dwindles' off on the south wind (Auster) to meet his 'contact' and 'pal', Professor Lal, who awaits him in the 'sunshine of Bombay' at the next conference.

Larkin here is having a quiet laugh at some of his academic colleagues; he knows perfectly well that there will be some elements of this stereotypical man that will be recognised and cause amusement among his fellows.

I can endorse this portrait, join in the laughter and enjoy Larkin's wicked sense of humour. However, I know personally that there are many, many hard-working, kind, liberal, dedicated and humble academics – some of them are my friends – I also am married to one! I'm sure that Larkin knew this too!

- Carole Collinson