Philip Larkin Added To Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey

A memorial to poet Philip Larkin has been added to Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey.
Philip Larkin (1922-1985) is not buried in Westminster Abbey but in Yorkshire. You can see a photo of his gravestone from Wikipedia. A statue of Larkin is on Kingston upon Hull station.

I am not sure that I like Larkin. He famously wrote, "They f... you up, your Mum and Dad ..." I would not normally even quote a four letter word. However, in this case I feel I must. I had lovely parents and I miss them.

He said to an interviewer: "Deprivation is for me what daffodils were for Wordsworth."

I think I prefer Wordsworth. That said, he was certainly memorable, and an influence on other poets and writers. I tend to think of his life as a warning. As the saying goes: 'There but for the grace of God, go I.'

I do, however, like his comment on life being like a train.

I would like to add my own parody.

On Philip Larkin

My Mum and Dad they brought me up
To think that working hard brought luck
They gave me love and education
And devotion to the nation

They muck you up, the poets do
So much that they say is not true
Often I spend an hour or two
Then think I've better things to do

Than listen to them rant and rave
I'd rather think of being brave
Not see life as a dark, sad cave
But tut, laugh, give a goodbye wave.

Angela Lansbury copyright 2016 December 2nd.

More Information From
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Larkin
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/famous-people?collection=wma-people&query=poets+corner
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-38187840 BBC article
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/02/philip-larkin-poets-corner-westminster-abbey

Angela Lansbury - author of twenty books including
Poetry Pets and Pests. (Lulu.com)

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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Seasonal Cherry Blossom in England

In England the daffodils are in the front gardens in London, and the cherry blossoms are in the high streets and suburban residential side streets.  

I imagine the cherry blossoms must be blooming in Japan, and in Washington DC, whose streets bloom with cherry blossom trees donated to the USA by the Japanese as a postwar peace offering.

Spring flowers - daffodils in London, cherry blossom California and Japan

In London we always have daffodils in March. Weather can vary and change quickly. A fortnight ago it was chilly with flooding. Now the flowers are out.
    When I was a teenager we were in the garden in March. In 1979 when I was pregnant I looked out of the hospital window and saw snow. The following week I was walking into a block of flats wearing slippers.
   This year in London in March you can see yellow daffodils, white and pink camellias, and yellow forsythia bushes, and pink cherry blossom on the trees.

UK garden flowers in the garden in March 2014.

UK garden flowers close up, cut and in a kitchen table vase in March 2014.

Forsythia bushes make a big splash of yellow in gardens.

 Camelias

   In the USA you will see lots of cherry trees because the Japanese sent cherry trees to Washington DC as a post-war peace offering.
On the other side of America the annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival® will be on Saturday and Sunday April 12-13 and April 19-20, 2014. Celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture in San Francisco’s Japantown!