Next, Please
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 lastWe 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”: “Next, Please” by Philip Larkin, a famous English poet, librarian, and writer, is a thought-provoking poetic piece. 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 matter touches various hearts, yet it leaves its readers to desire more from the poet, a hallmark of Larkin’s poetry.
- “Next Please,” A Criticism on Man’s Nature: This poem is an irrefutable comment on our life full of hollow approaches. It begins with a satiric tone as the poet talks about the human propensity to look beyond the present. The objective is to gain more. Due to this expectancy, we waste a lot of time and deprive ourselves of the pleasures of the present glory. Although we know that the always approaching future will surely knock at our doorstep, yet we intend to unfold the hidden mysteries of time beforehand. To elevate the beauty of this poem, the poet compares the beauty of the future with a sparkling and dazzling ship – a ship that never docks. 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. By doing this ill practice, they get closer to the death that arrives before the arrival of their expected future.
- Major Themes in “Next Please”: Criticism on 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 the arrival of 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 use to convey their message impressively. Philip Larkin also has inserted some literary devices in this poem to enhance his writing. The analysis of the devices used in this poem is as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /a/ in “Only one ship is seeking us, a black” and the sound of /o/ in “All good into our lives, all we are owed.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /t/ in “than it turns” and /b/ sound in “breed or break.”
- 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.
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /s/ in “Only one ship is seeking us, a black” and the sound of /r/ in “No sooner present than it turns to past.”
- 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.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Philip Larkin has used imagery in this poem such as “Sparkling armada of promises draw near”, “Flagged, and the figurehead wit golden tits” and “Something is always approaching; every day.”
- 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.
- 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.
- End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. Philip Larkin has used end rhyme in this poem such as; “unload/owed”, “black/back” and “past/last.”
- Quatrain: A quatrain is a four-lined stanza borrowed from Persian poetry. Here all stanzas are quatrains.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows AABB rhyme Scheme, and this pattern continues until the end.
- 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.”
