Days (poem)

"Days" is a short poem written by Philip Larkin, published in his collection The Whitsun Weddings (1964). The poem explores the speaker's contemplation of what days are for, presenting a bleak and somewhat cynical perspective on the human condition.

The poem's structure is simple, consisting of two stanzas of three lines each. This brevity contributes to its impact, allowing the central question to resonate with directness.

The first stanza poses the question: "What are days for?" The answer is given in the second line: "Days are where we live." The final line of the first stanza introduces a degree of ambiguity by implying a sense of confinement or limitation: "They come, they wake us / Time and time over."

The second stanza presents a possible answer to the initial question, albeit a pessimistic one. The speaker introduces "someone asking" about what days are for and proceeds to state that "Days are a waste of time," an ultimately somber reflection on the human experience and the perceived lack of inherent meaning within the daily routine. The final line reinforces this negativity: "To be stared at, stared through." This implies a passive, even detached, relationship with the passage of time, suggesting days are merely endured rather than actively lived.

The poem's strength lies in its evocative language and stark imagery. Larkin uses simple diction to convey a profound sense of existential unease. The poem's overall tone is one of disillusionment and resignation, characteristic of Larkin's work. "Days" is often interpreted as a reflection on the perceived monotony and meaninglessness of modern life.