Poem Analysis - Ill Get One Tomorrow

Overall Impression and Tone

Ogden Nash's "I'll Get One Tomorrow" is a humorous and lighthearted poem that explores the speaker's reluctance to visit the barber. The poem maintains a playful and whimsical tone throughout, with a slight shift in mood towards the end as the speaker finally resolves to get a haircut. The speaker's exaggerated complaints about his hair and his humorous self-deprecation create a sense of comic relief and amusement.

Themes of Reluctance and Procrastination

The primary theme of the poem is the speaker's reluctance to visit the barber, which is a metaphor for procrastination and avoidance. The speaker acknowledges that other men, no busier or wealthier than himself, regularly visit the barber, but he still finds excuses to delay his own visit. This theme is developed through the speaker's humorous self-deprecation and his exaggerated complaints about his hair. The speaker's reluctance is also highlighted by his use of hyperbolic language, such as describing his hair as "hairy torrents" and "the jungle" that needs to be kept off his collar.

Imagery of Hair and Nature

The poem is rich with vivid imagery, particularly related to hair and nature. The speaker's hair is described as "climbing like ivy round my ears" and "gamboling" and "ambling" down his neck. These images create a sense of chaos and disorder, emphasizing the speaker's discomfort with his unkempt appearance. The hair is also compared to a "jungle" and "creeping flora," further emphasizing the speaker's reluctance to confront and tame his hair. The imagery of nature also serves as a metaphor for the speaker's inner turmoil and procrastination, as he struggles to take control of his appearance and his life.

Symbolism of the Barber

The barber serves as a symbol of order and control in the poem. The speaker's reluctance to visit the barber highlights his struggle with procrastination and avoidance. The barber's tools, such as shears, scythes, snippers, and electric driers, are described in exaggerated and humorous terms, emphasizing the speaker's fear and anxiety about the haircutting process. The barber's "smiling den" and "modest fee" also serve as symbols of the comfort and simplicity that the speaker is avoiding. The speaker's final resolution to visit the barber, despite his fears and anxieties, suggests a willingness to confront and overcome his procrastination and avoidance.

Conclusion

In "I'll Get One Tomorrow," Ogden Nash uses humor and vivid imagery to explore the speaker's reluctance to visit the barber, which serves as a metaphor for procrastination and avoidance. The poem's playful tone and exaggerated language create a sense of comic relief and amusement, while the imagery of hair and nature emphasizes the speaker's discomfort with his unkempt appearance. The barber serves as a symbol of order and control, highlighting the speaker's struggle with procrastination and avoidance. Ultimately, the poem offers a humorous and insightful commentary on the human tendency to procrastinate and avoid difficult tasks, and the importance of confronting and overcoming these tendencies.