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Poet: Philip Larkin
Poem: For Sidney Bechet
Volume: The Whitsun Weddings
Year: Published/Written in 1954
Poem of the Day on:
Jun 18 2004
Comment 6 of 6, added on January 27th, 2009 at 8:56 AM.
@hayley:
Dont forget that *some* Jazz "moans". *Some* of it is played to complain. So Larkin might just describe what he believes the musician is trying to say.
@Alastair:
'Others may license, grouping around their chairs/Sporting-house girls like circus tigers (priced/Far above rubies)"
Maybe this refers to New Orleans as a sin city. "license" could be read as related to alcohol, the girls could be hookers, expensive ones.
It could also refer again to the musicians. They group around their chairs: Maybe the owner of the place put chairs on the stage for the Jazzmen but as they play they jump up and live their music. Between them: the chairs.
There are a million ways of reading Larkin. The only thing to remember is that he drafted a lot and carefully thought every word over. So, there must be sense in it somewhere. The question is if we find the interpretation Larkin had in mind... ;-)
Marty from Germany
Comment 5 of 6, added on September 30th, 2008 at 7:18 AM.
This is really more of a question than a comment. I love the poem - typically striking that balance between an impulse for joy and passion and the melancholy that those things are only imaginary for him... but I don't understand the part 'Others may license, grouping around their chairs/Sporting-house girls like circus tigers (priced/Far above rubies) to pretend their fads'. It's partly the syntax - how does someone 'pretend' a 'fad'? And is 'license' the verb, as in 'allow'?
And are they 'allowing' the sporting-house girls to do... what? Can anyone throw some light on this? Alastair
Alastair Trevill from United Kingdom
Comment 4 of 6, added on June 9th, 2006 at 3:44 AM.
I think that this line is just perfect. It describes exactly how you feel when an experience such as listening to your favorite piece of music reaches your senses. I love getting enormous yeses!
Abel from United Kingdom
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@hayley:
Dont forget that *some* Jazz "moans". *Some* of it is played to complain. So Larkin might just describe what he believes the musician is trying to say.
@Alastair:
'Others may license, grouping around their chairs/Sporting-house girls like circus tigers (priced/Far above rubies)"
Maybe this refers to New Orleans as a sin city. "license" could be read as related to alcohol, the girls could be hookers, expensive ones.
It could also refer again to the musicians. They group around their chairs: Maybe the owner of the place put chairs on the stage for the Jazzmen but as they play they jump up and live their music. Between them: the chairs.
There are a million ways of reading Larkin. The only thing to remember is that he drafted a lot and carefully thought every word over. So, there must be sense in it somewhere. The question is if we find the interpretation Larkin had in mind... ;-)
Marty from Germany