Annus Mirabilis

Sexual intercourse began
In nineteen sixty-three
(Which was rather late for me)–
Between the end of the Chatterly ban
And the Beatles’ first LP.

Up till then there’d only been
A sort of bargaining,
A wrangle for a ring,
A shame that started at sixteen
And spread to everything.

Then all at once the quarrel sank:
Everyone felt the same,
And every life became
A brilliant breaking of the bank,
A quite unlosable game.

So life was never better than
In nineteen sixty-three
(Though just too late for me)–
Between the end of the Chatterly ban
And the Beatles’ first LP.

–Philip Larkin

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Chatter Random Friday Annus Mirabilis Philip Larkin Valentine's Day