Figurative Language 3- Toads

"But I do say it's hard to lose either, When you have both." line 35

In Philip Larkin's, "Toads," the speaker describes two toads or hardships in his life. One of these struggles is material and superficial, where as the other is spiritual and within himself. The first toad is material. The speaker describes his inability to attain material possession. He often refers to the shortcomings he is faced with financially. He describes this through lines such as "Eat windfalls and tinned sardines--They seem to like it." and "Their nippers have got bare feet." The speaker claims to work diligently but is forced to spend his earnings on necessity items. However, I think the speaker is lacking in quality education, making him unable to earn a sufficient salary. I came to this conclusion from the speaker's diction. He fails to use proper English lines such as, "Their nippers have got bare feet," and "Ah, were I courageous enough." Besides the speaker's material hardships, his spiritual relationship is challenged. I think the speaker is asking God why he isn't satisfied with what he's been given, when many others in his situation are seemingly content.