Wild Oats

Wild Oats

This poem is personal to Larkin because it is about the women that Larkin became most close to marriage with in his life , Jane Exall. 

Stanza 1 

Stanza 1 describes his first encounter with a Bosomy English Rose and her friend in specs. Larkin describes both girls in a very stereotypical manner " girl in specs and Bosomy English Rose". Larkin is attracted to the "Bosomy English Rose" but he chooses to go out with the "Friend in specs". Larkin describes the whole event as what "sparked off the whole shooting match" this could also be stereotypical about females because he could be 'bird' hunting. This gives the impression that the persona ( in this case Larkin) is almost predatory in his search for a women. 

Stanza 2 

In the next stanza it becomes apparent that his relationship doesn't seem to be progressing "wrote over four hundred letters" this gives me the impression that as much as he writes to her she replies very little. He also goes as far to give her a ring which he gets back after they split up. I also get the impression that she was very immature, at the end of the stanza it says that "she was trying both times not to laugh". This could mean that she does not feel the same about Larkin and she views the relationship as fun. 

Stanza 3

The relationship is now seen as artificial according to both of them "after about five rehearsals", also it is not deemed as important to Larkin because he cannot remember how many there are "after about". He then slowly disregards the 'friend in specs' by using filler words such as 'well', I believe that he view his relationship with her as a stepping stone in his life and it is no loner important to him. At the end of the poem he reveals that his true love was in fact the Bosomy English Rose because he keeps 'snaps' of her in his wallet so she is important to him. He also believes that they are an unlucky charm because of his lack of a love life since.