Inmates seek justice for Philip Larkin poem that won second place

The Hull poet Philip Larkin
Inmates seek justice for Philip Larkin poem that won second place

A prisoner who copied a poem by Philip Larkin in a bid to win a poetry competition was caught out after fellow inmates spotted the plagiarism.

Sergio Lapa, 36, was initially awarded second place in a poetry competition in the prisoner's magazine Inside Time.

The prisoner, who is awaiting trial at HMP Norwich on a charge of attempted murder, entered a poem called In Bed in his attempt to win the £25 prize in the March edition of the magazine.

But he was caught out when at least eight prisoners spotted the poem was an exact copy of Philip Larkin's poem Talking In Bed.

A prison worker also wrote to the magazine to point out the poem was a copy of the 1964 poem about isolation, disillusion and failure and that Mr Lapa had been caught "bang to rights".

The complainant said: "I wish to point out that the poem entitled 'In Bed' by Sergio Lapa, HMP Norwich, in March issue of your paper, is an exact copy of Philip Larkin's poem Talking In Bed.

"I believe it is not right that your highly esteemed paper should publish plagiarised content and prisoners ought to be aware of this."

Mr Lapa is now facing a barrage of abuse by prisoners at HMP Norwich.

A prison source said lags took poetry 'very seriously' and were furious when poems were ripped off.

He said: "It wasn't just the prison worker who complained, it was at least eight prisoners, who were furious that his poem got published when theirs ended up in the bin.

"The prison poetry brigade take plagiarism very seriously.

"There is a very moral code in prison when it comes to poetry and this guy is feeling the heat at the moment – there are a lot of angry people around."

A spokesman for Inside Time confirmed it had received 'many letters' about the poem. He added: "Do not plagiarise other people’s work, as you WILL be found out."

The poem by Larkin lost out in the competition to a contribution titled Relating from a prisoner called Brian Darby, of HMP Maidstone.