Centre for Romanian Studies

Poetry in Translation (CCCLXI), Philip LARKIN (1922, Coventry England – 1985, Hull, England), GREAT BRITAIN/ENGLAND: “This Be The Verse”, “Soroc”

Philip LARKIN

Philip LARKIN (1922-1985)

This Be The Verse

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.

* * * * *

Philip LARKIN (1922-1985)

Soroc

Părinţii te-au nenorocit.
N-au vrut, dar asta au făcut!
Ţi-au dat ponoase înzecit,
O viaţ-aşa cum n-ai crezut.

Dar ei, la rândul lor au fost
Mânaţi mereu chiar de părinţii lor,
Care erau nebuni de tot
Şi la gâlceavă deseori.

Căci omul moşteneşte din străbuni
Mizeria din sufletul adânc:
Să pleci din casa asta de nebuni,
Dar mai ales să n-ai cumva vre-un prunc!

Rendered in Romanian by Constantin ROMAN,
© 2015 Copyright Constantin ROMAN, London

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SHORT BIO NOTE: Philip Larkin, an eminent writer in post-war England, was a national favourite poet who was commonly referred to as “England’s other Poet Laureate” until his death in 1985. Indeed, when the position of laureate became vacant in 1984, many poets and critics sought Larkin’s appointment, but the shy, provincial author preferred to avoid the limelight. He is best described as a no-nonsense, solitary Englishman who disliked fame and had no patience for the trappings of the public literary life. Larkin was chosen in a 2003 Poetry Book Society survey, almost two decades after his death, as Britain’s best-loved poet of the previous 50 years, and in 2008 The Times named him Britain’s greatest post-war writer.