Next, Please

Next, Please

By Philip Larkin

Always too eager for the future, we
Pick up bad habits of expectancy.
Something is always approaching; every day
Till then we say,

Watching from a bluff the tiny, clear
Sparkling armada of promises draw near.
How slow they are! And how much time they waste,
Refusing to make haste!

Yet still they leave us holding wretched stalks
Of disappointment, for, though nothing balks
Each big approach, leaning with brasswork prinked,
Each rope distinct,

Flagged, and the figurehead wit golden t**s
Arching our way, it never anchors; it’s
No sooner present than it turns to past.
Right to the last

We think each one will heave to and unload
All good into our lives, all we are owed
For waiting so devoutly and so long.
But we are wrong:

Only one ship is seeking us, a black-
Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her back
A huge and birdless silence. In her wake
No waters breed or break.

Summary of Next, Please

• Popularity of “Next Please”: The poem ‘Next, Please” was written by Philip Larkin, a famous English poet, librarian, and writer, is a thought-provoking poetic piece. It was published in 1951 in his collection, The Last Deceived. The poem criticizes the tendency of people to always look to the uncertain future while neglecting the glory of the present life. This greedy nature of mankind makes them experience the worst in life. Although the poem’s subject touches various hearts, it leaves its readers to desire more from the poet, a hallmark of Larkin’s poetry.
• “Next Please,” A Criticism of Man’s Nature: This poem is an irrefutable comment on our life, full of hollow approaches.The poem assumes a satirical tone as the poet discusses the human inclination to gaze beyond the immediate moment. The aim is to gain more. This expectancy leads to a substantial amount of time wasted and prevents us from experiencing the pleasures of the present glory. Although we anticipate the forthcoming future, our intention is to reveal the veiled enigmas of time in advance. The poet employs a metaphor to enhance the elegance of this poem, by juxtaposing the magnificence of the future with a gleaming and captivating ship – a ship that never finds anchorage. However, it deceives people and lets them bear false hopes in their hearts. Unfortunately, those who run after the future end up in depression and despair. Through this practice, they draw nearer to the imminent death that precedes the arrival of their envisioned future.
• Major Themes in “Next Please”: Criticism of man’s nature, death, and romanticizing the future are the major themes of the poem. Throughout the poem, the speaker tries to highlight that humans are so impatient. They run after the future that is actually approaching us with every passing day. Although we know that this expectancy and desire of wanting more direct us to an uncertain path, we love to waste our time chasing false hopes and desires. Unfortunately, before a once desired future, death comes and puts a stop to our lives. To clarify it, he discusses two types of people in this poem. One who waits for what the future brings for them and others who want to unfold the unseen future beforehand. However, those who show patience and live in the present remain satisfied at the end, and those who waste time remain disappointed, sad, and regretful.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Next, Please

literary devices refer to specific linguistic structures writers used to convey their message impressively. Philip Larkin also used some literary devices in this poem to enhance his writing. The analysis of the devices used in this poem is as follows.

1. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “Only one ship is seeking us, a black” and the sound of /oo/ in “All good into our lives, all we are owed”.
2. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /f/ in “Always too eager for the future” and the sound of /b/ in “breed or break”.
3. Allegory: It is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures, and events. This is an allegorical poem that sheds light on the hasty nature of mankind.
4. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /k/ in “Only one ship is seeking us, a black” and the sound of /r/ and /t/ in “No sooner present than it turns to past”.
5. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,

“Watching from a bluff the tiny, clear
Sparkling armada of promises draw near.”

6. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “Sparkling armada of promises draw near”, “Flagged, and the figurehead wit golden tits” and “Something is always approaching; every day”.
7. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different in nature. The poet has used ship as an extended metaphor in the poem to show how every passing day is taking us close to the expected end.
8. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. “Next, Please” symbolizes the urgency the people feel in life.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Next, Please”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

1. End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. Philip Larkin used end rhyme in this poem such as; “unload/owed”, “black/back” and “past/last”.
2. Quatrain: A quatrain is a four-lined stanza borrowed from Persian poetry. Here all stanzas are quatrains.

3. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows AABB rhyme Scheme, and this pattern continues until the end.
4. Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are six stanzas in this poem, with each comprising four lines.

Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below are useful to use in motivational speeches or while talking about the dark side of human nature.

“Always too eager for the future, we
Pick up bad habits of expectancy.
Something is always approaching; every day
Till then we say.”