In his introduction to the reading of the poem, Motion comments:

"It's a poem about a painting, not that you need to know it. I think this is a sort of polite form of revenge on Phillip Larkin, whom I greatly liked and wished no, had no revenging feelings about truly. But Larkin was very keen on the idea you should never write poems about other poems or other works of art, other paintings, and like you all I'm sure, I spend a lot of time looking at paintings, and want to write about them sometimes, so, anyway at last I've overcome my Larkin inspired inhibitions about this. In the National Gallery there is a wonderful small painting by the late 18th, early 19th century painter Thomas Jones whose large scale works are rather disappointing but whose small scale works are rather magical."

Is there a painting that could inspire you to write a poem? If yes, why don't you read through the following and see if this helps and send us what you write. Login and send us your own poems and stories or your opinions and comments below. We'll publish the best poems.

• think about the feelings you had when you first saw the painting and write some words that describe to describe these feelings
• imagine you were standing next to the painter when they were working on the painting, and describe what you see
• now reflect on what's happened in your life when you first saw the painting and how your views have changed.

The rest is over to you, good luck!

Log in and send us your own texts or your opinions and comments below.