"I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife"

Philip Larkin's quote is a criticism of poets who walk around American universities describing how they compose their poems. He thinks that this is unneeded and a waste of time, as composing poetry is a personal and innovative procedure that can not be taught. He compares this to describing how one sleeps with their other half, which is an intimate and private act that can not be taught. He suggests that composing poetry is a comparable procedure, which it needs to not be discussed to others. He thinks that poets need to focus on their own imaginative process and not try to teach it to others. His quote is a pointer that writing poetry is an individual and imaginative procedure that can not be taught, which poets must focus on their own imaginative procedure.