This poem describes the earlier years of Larkin, especially his first girlfriend Ruth Bowman, a relationship that failed miserably but ironically later on in his life he still has photos of a girl, but not the one he dated. Larkin fantasises about his girlfriend's friend, and seems to reach for girls that are out of his league.
Voice:
The voice in this poem is quite sarcastic and dry, especially towards the women he's with but doesn't like as much.
Analysis:
- Larkin labels the two women, the 'bosomy English rose' and the 'friend in specs'. The 'bosomy English rose' is classically beautiful, a metaphor for this idealistic woman. The 'friend' is the one he could talk to, her specs a small detail that he makes relevant to her less attractive appearance. There are two contracts to the women, and Larkin makes this sexist because of the basic nature of the poem.
- 'I met beautiful' suggests the persona only considers looks, attraction based on looks and that he won't be happy or committed to anyone else that doesn't meet his expectations. The persona only admires this girl from afar, she's out of his league and he becomes uncomfortable and not confident around her. He seems to degrade the girl he's with because she doesn't make him insecure, instead he's not intimidated and they seem to be the same. He aims for the women he knows he can get, and feels better than her because she is attainable.
- 'Too selfish, withdrawn and easily bored to love', the persona can't do commitment and makes them 'agreements' rather than acts of love.
- He keeps the photo after 'twenty years', the girl in his wallet the ideal woman becomes his 'unlucky charm' because no woman will match her.
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