Many aspects of our daily lives are paradoxical. One in particular is the relationship we have with our loved ones. Philip Larkin’s poem “Talking in Bed,” portrays this through simple and precise poetry. The title of the poem itself is ironic in that, it isn’t about talking in bed, it argues of how difficult this situation can become over time. He argues that no matter how close we are to someone, we can still feel lonely and as if this person isn’t who we thought they were in the first place. Even when we are surrounded by people who “love” us, we are still capable of experiencing a sense of loneliness. Larkin also expresses how although marriage is something that is sacred and should be built on loyalty and trust, there are always secrets that we withhold. In line two “lying,” could mean one of two things, two lovers lying beside one another, or that they are lying to each other or even themselves. The line that follows, “An emblem of two people being honest” implies that this couple is not honest with one another. This poem shows another side to the realities of marriage. We aren’t always honest with those that we love in hopes of sparing their feelings. In bed where it once was the easiest, if not the only place these lovers were honest with one another, it no longer is possible. We are constantly questioning how much we really know about our partners, or if we even know them at all. Over time, we begin to grow distant with one another until at one point in time; we have nothing left to say, so “time passes silently,” as in line four. Talking to our significant other is supposed to be easy, however over time we gradually grow apart making it hard to find things that we once had in common. Larkin’s use of dark language sets the mood of this poem, and influences its readers to question the relationships that they have with their loved ones. People