WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE METAPHYSICAL POETS: continuing our series of short stories inspired by the lives and work of the seventeenth century poets John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell.

"INSTANT FIRES" by Joe Dunthorne, read by Jessica Harris.

Young novelist Joe Dunthorne's short story brilliantly evokes the preoccupations of seventeen year old Anna. Blazing with the confidence of youth - and the burgeoning instincts of the woman she will become - Anna is bemused by the attention paid to her by her English teacher, Mr Ashford. but not so distracted that she fails to notice the Head Boy's attempts to woo her using updated lines from Andrew Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress": "Girl, I'm thinking a half-term on your thighs, double maths on your neck, a lunch-hour to each of your teeth."

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Show less