'Walking around in the park Should feel better than work'
Larkin described how 'Walking around in the park should feel better than work' therefore it appears that Larkin has become used to being a slave to the world of work and maybe he has leaned to enjoy it, essentially having a break just doesn't suit him. The word 'should' is stressed at the beginning which immediately shows that the poet does not feel better, in fact being at work is better than walking around the park whilst unemployed. Larkin later describes 'The lake, the sunshine' and 'The grass to lie on' whilst on the topic of the park. He admits it's 'not a bad place to be' but 'it doesn't suit [him]' which reinforces the point that Larkin is unsatisfied with unemployment.
'Being one of the men You meet of an afternoon'
Larkin begins to list a group of people who are unemployed where he brutally expresses his loathing towards them and how he desperately does not want to look / be classed the same as them. The poet describes the 'Palsied old step takers' which implies individuals who are unable to walk properly because of medial reasons or maybe because of an accident. Larkin later describes the 'Hare-eyed clerks with the jitters' which clearly suggests Larkin's critical manner as he describes the insane individuals who may have suffered from a mental/nervous breakdown, therefore they are mentally unstable, Larkin is determined to avoid these people. Moreover, Larkin goes on to describe the 'Waxed-fleshed out patients Still vague from accidents.' 'Waxed-flesh' implies a sense of horror which reinforces the fact that Larkin does not want to be associated with these people. Finally, he describes the 'characters in long coats Deep in the litter baskets' which refers to the homeless hopelessly looking for food because they are unable to buy any themselves. Throughout the third and fourth stanza, Larkin takes a strong critical approach to the unemployed as he classifies them all as an embarrassment and even in a sense, a source of horror.
'All dodging the toad work By being stupid of weak'
Larkin portrays the idea that individuals all avoid work on purpose, they are 'all dodging the toad work.' The word 'dodging' sounds judgemental and unfair due to some of the listed, such as 'Waxed-fleshed out-patients' because they have no choice about their lack of occupation due to medical reasons. The poet describes the unemployed as being 'stupid or weak' which is a cruel reference as it's brutally apparent that he believes those who avoid work are doing it on purpose and expect others to work whilst they do nothing. Eventually, Larkin expresses how he would hate to be them. 'Think of being them!' clearly expresses his personal and judgemental opinion because he could not bear to be associated with the ghastly unemployed. The prospect of having no job is unappealing to him, those who do not work are more aware of the bleakness of life.
'Turning over their failures'
Larkin describes how the unemployed will sit whilst 'Turning over their failures.' Larkin does not have the time to consider negative thoughts whilst he is working, therefore work is a distraction from reality. Moreover, the point that those who do not work are considered 'failures' with no ambition, means that we should not aspire to them or count them as our role models.
'Give me your arm, old toad; Help me down Cemetery Road'
Larkin depicts the fact that he cannot see any future without his occupation and decides that he will be led to his death by 'the toad work'. To be associated with unemployment and the individuals within it, is far worse than his profession.
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