Lovely Literature

'Toads" is an extended metaphor that continues through the poem comparing a toad to something that is responsible for controlling the speaker's and other peoples lives. This poem uses many alliterations [Lots of folks live on their wits/lecturers, lispers/losels, loblolly men, louts] and has incredible diction. The diction along with repetition helps the speaker get his point across. He is not just going to sit down and allow the "toad," or "the man," run his life. At the same time, the speaker seems almost envious of the toads because they do not have to worry about making money.

"Their nippers have got bare feet
Their unspeakable wives
Are skinny as whippets--and yet
No one actually starves,"

This stanza makes me think that the speaker wishes he could have a wife "skinny as a whippet" just because she watches what she eats, not because she is starving. He wants to live a lush life and not stick to what the man says. He wants to be "The Man."

The final stanza makes this point yet again.

"I don't say, one bodies the other
One's spiritual truth;
But I do say it's hard to lose either,
When you have both."

The speaker is referring to the "fame and the girl and the money." He seems to think that once you have one, it's difficult to lose the other. He definitely seems to think he is stuck in his life and not moving along. His diction shows his passion and somewhat angry feelings for those who are of higher authority and salary than he.