"They fuck you up, your mum and dad." (ll.1) the first line of this poem comes off very harsh, because it is! Larkin is getting the reader's attention with the first line. Your mom and dad "fuck you up" by giving you insights on how to better yourself and punishing you for the wrong things you have done. "They may not mean to, but they do" (ll.2) Parents don't mean to hurt you, they are trying to mold you into a better person by sharing some of their life experiences with you. M They sometimes comes off as being rude, but really they are being firm and attempting to rub off some of their experience on you. "They fill you with the faults they had" (ll.3) Larkin is basically saying that they share their experience with you because they know that it is very valuable information which can better your life. "And add some extra, just for you" (ll.4) Parents not only use their own experience but also look at their children's life and they try to explain to them what they notice is wrong and how to change that for the better. "But they were fucked up in their turn (ll.5), by fools in old-style hats and coats" (ll.6) Larkin is saying that the parents who
"They fuck you up, your mum and dad." (ll.1) the first line of this poem comes off very harsh, because it is! Larkin is getting the reader's attention with the first line. Your mom and dad "fuck you up" by giving you insights on how to better yourself and punishing you for the wrong things you have done. "They may not mean to, but they do" (ll.2) Parents don't mean to hurt you, they are trying to mold you into a better person by sharing some of their life experiences with you. M They sometimes comes off as being rude, but really they are being firm and attempting to rub off some of their experience on you. "They fill you with the faults they had" (ll.3) Larkin is basically saying that they share their experience with you because they know that it is very valuable information which can better your life. "And add some extra, just for you" (ll.4) Parents not only use their own experience but also look at their children's life and they try to explain to them what they notice is wrong and how to change that for the better. "But they were fucked up in their turn (ll.5), by fools in old-style hats and coats" (ll.6) Larkin is saying that the parents who