'The Day After The Day After Boxing Day' by Paul Cookson
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On the day after the day after Boxing Day
Santa wakes up, eventually,
puts away his big red suit and wellies,
lets Rudolph and the gang out into the meadow
then shaves his head and beard.
He puts on his new new cool sunglasses,
baggy blue Bermuda shorts (he's sick of red),
yellow stripy T-shirt that doesn't quite cover his belly
and lets his toes breathe in flip-flops.
Packing a bucket and spade,
fifteen tubes of Factor Twenty suncream
and seventeen romantic novels
he fills his Walkman with the latest sounds,
is glad to use a proper suitcase instead of the old sack
and heads off into the Mediterranean sunrise
enjoyng the comforts of a Boeing 747
(although he passes on the free drinks).
Six months later,
relaxed, red and a little more than stubbly,
he looks at his watch, adjusts his wide-brimmed sunhat,
mops the sweat from his brow and strokes his chin,
wondering why holidays always seem to go so quickly.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Day After The Day After Boxing Day: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Have you ever wondered what happens after Christmas and Boxing Day? What is the aftermath of all the festivities, the food, the presents, and the family gatherings? Paul Cookson has captured the essence of the day after the day after Boxing Day in his poem aptly titled "The Day After The Day After Boxing Day." In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, language, and structure of the poem to understand its significance and relevance.
Overview of the Poem
"The Day After The Day After Boxing Day" is a humorous and relatable poem that captures the mundanity and monotony of the day after the day after Boxing Day. The poem is divided into twelve stanzas, each describing a different aspect of the day, from the leftover turkey to the endless TV shows. The poem employs a conversational and colloquial tone that makes it accessible and relatable to readers. The poem's structure is consistent, with each stanza following a similar pattern of starting with a question and ending with a punchline or a witty observation.
Themes in the Poem
One of the primary themes in the poem is the post-holiday letdown. After all the excitement and anticipation leading up to Christmas and Boxing Day, the day after can feel like a letdown, with nothing to look forward to and a sense of emptiness. The speaker in the poem captures this sentiment in lines such as "The world is full of boxes, and I don't know what to do" and "The fridge is getting emptier, and so am I."
Another theme in the poem is the sense of excess and waste that comes with the holiday season. The poem describes the leftover turkey and mince pies that no one wants to eat and the piles of wrapping paper and packaging that need to be disposed of. The poem highlights the environmental impact of our holiday consumption in lines such as "The bin is full of rubbish, and the world is full of waste."
Language and Style
The language and style of the poem are conversational and colloquial, which makes it accessible and relatable to readers. The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme or meter, which gives the poem a natural and organic flow. The poem also employs humor and wit to keep the reader engaged and entertained. The use of rhetorical questions in each stanza creates a sense of anticipation and sets up the punchline or witty observation at the end of each stanza.
The poem also employs imagery and sensory details to paint a vivid picture of the day after the day after Boxing Day. The description of the "empty Quality Street tin" and the "reindeer jumper on the back of a chair" are examples of the sensory details that the poem uses to create a sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
Interpretation of the Poem
"The Day After The Day After Boxing Day" can be interpreted as a commentary on the excess and waste that comes with the holiday season. The poem highlights the environmental impact of our holiday consumption, from the piles of wrapping paper and packaging to the leftover food that goes to waste. The poem challenges us to think about our holiday traditions and how we can reduce our impact on the environment.
The poem can also be interpreted as a reflection on the post-holiday letdown that many people experience. After all the excitement and anticipation leading up to Christmas and Boxing Day, the day after can feel like a letdown, with nothing to look forward to and a sense of emptiness. The poem captures this sentiment and invites us to reflect on the importance of finding joy and meaning beyond the holiday season.
Conclusion
"The Day After The Day After Boxing Day" is a relatable and humorous poem that captures the mundanity and monotony of the day after the day after Boxing Day. The poem explores themes of post-holiday letdown and excess and waste while employing a conversational and colloquial style that makes it accessible and relatable to readers. The poem challenges us to reflect on our holiday traditions and how we can reduce our impact on the environment while also reminding us of the importance of finding joy and meaning beyond the holiday season.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Day After The Day After Boxing Day: A Poetic Masterpiece
Are you tired of the same old Christmas poems that talk about snow, mistletoe, and Santa Claus? Look no further than Paul Cookson's "The Day After The Day After Boxing Day." This witty and relatable poem captures the essence of the post-holiday blues in a way that will make you laugh and nod your head in agreement.
The poem begins with the line "The day after the day after Boxing Day," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It's a time when the excitement of Christmas has faded, and reality has set in. Cookson describes the scene as "the house is a mess, the fridge is still full," which is a sentiment that many of us can relate to. After days of indulging in holiday treats, the fridge is overflowing with leftovers, and the house is in disarray from all the festivities.
As the poem continues, Cookson delves deeper into the post-holiday slump. He writes, "The tinsel's all drooping, the tree's looking bare," which paints a picture of a once-beautiful Christmas tree now looking sad and forgotten. It's a reminder that the magic of the holiday season is fleeting and that we must cherish it while it lasts.
One of the most relatable lines in the poem is "The presents are opened, the thank you's are done." It's a reminder that the excitement of receiving gifts has passed, and now it's time to move on to the next thing. Cookson captures this feeling perfectly, and it's something that many of us have experienced.
But the poem isn't all doom and gloom. Cookson injects humor into the piece with lines like "The batteries are flat in the toys that they got," which is a common problem that parents face after Christmas. It's a lighthearted moment in the poem that will make you chuckle and remember your own experiences with dead batteries.
As the poem comes to a close, Cookson offers a glimmer of hope. He writes, "But don't be downhearted, don't be sad, don't be blue, there's only 364 days till the next one's due." It's a reminder that while the holiday season may be over, there's always next year to look forward to. It's a message of hope and optimism that will leave you feeling uplifted and ready to tackle the new year.
Overall, "The Day After The Day After Boxing Day" is a poetic masterpiece that captures the essence of the post-holiday blues. Cookson's witty and relatable writing will make you laugh, nod your head in agreement, and leave you feeling hopeful for the future. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the highs and lows of the holiday season.
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