The Poetry of Kingsley Amis and Philip LarkinWhen reading poetry, of many different genres, it seems that politically motivated verse seems to dominate, alongside love . It also seems that poets have the desire to live in another time, in another place. No one ever seems satisfied with the state of their world, and yet, I suppose that's the nature of humans. We all want something better or something from the past that we can't have. Whether it's simplicity, passion, the technology we don't have, the peace of old, or the grandeur long gone, poets of a political nature suggest a very personal but pervasive utopia . Two politically inclined poets who were born in the same year, lived in the same part of the world, and attended the same college prove to be an interesting contrast to each other. Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin are both from England and are considered "modernists", but what they are suggesting is not a "better place" or a different time. Their work represents a shift in attitude from looking at what is not to looking at reality and what is. Of course, each of these poets has a different perspective, because there is no single motive, desire, or drive that can be defined. like the essence of life. You can't describe someone's work as being all or none of this or that. What is interesting, however, is the subjective nature of each poet in their outlook on life and how this is represented in their poetry. Each has a unique quality that sets them apart from others and each has characteristics that provide the reader with clues about their perspective on life. Examining Amis's poetry, one cannot help but re-read..... . middle of paper...... Larkin, Philip. Collected poems. Victoria: The Marvell Press; London: Faber and Faber, 2003. Print “Philip Larkin”. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. January 8, 2009. “Larkin Study Notes.” Chaeron.net. Internet. April 14, 2010. “Philip Larkin.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Internet. April 14, 2010. “Philip Larkin.” Encyclopedia of the New World. August 29, 2008. The web. April 14. 2010. .