Introduction to "Look We Have Coming to Dover!"
Welcome to your study guide for Daljit Nagra's vibrant and energetic poem, "Look We Have Coming to Dover!". This poem is a standout in the "Poems of the Decade" anthology because of its unique voice and the way it plays with the English language. It explores the experience of immigrants arriving in Britain, blending the excitement of a new start with the harsh reality of being an outsider.
For your Pearson Edexcel International A Level (Unit 1 Section A), you need to understand how Nagra uses language and structure to create meaning (AO2) and how this poem connects to other poems in the collection (AO4). Don’t worry if the language seems a bit "scrambled" at first—that is exactly what Nagra intended!
The Big Picture: What is happening?
The poem follows a group of immigrants as they arrive in the UK by sea, specifically at the iconic white cliffs of Dover. It tracks their journey from being "stowed" away in secret to their hopes of eventually "winning" and becoming part of British society. The poem is famous for its use of "Punglish"—a mix of Punjabi and English—which reflects the dual identity of the speaker.
Did you know? The title is a clever mash-up of two famous literary works: Matthew Arnold’s 19th-century poem "Dover Beach" and D.H. Lawrence’s "Look! We Have Come Through!". By referencing these "classic" English writers, Nagra is claiming his own place in English literature.
Key Themes to Watch For
1. Identity and Language
Nagra uses a non-standard version of English. For example, the title "Look We Have Coming to Dover!" sounds slightly "incorrect" to a native speaker. This is intentional. It represents the voice of someone learning the language, but it also challenges the idea that there is only one "right" way to speak English.
2. The Immigrant Experience
The poem portrays immigration as a difficult, physical journey. The speakers are "stowed in the sea" and described as "huddled". However, it isn't just about suffering; it is also about ambition. They want to move from being "illegal" outsiders to "winning" and enjoying the British lifestyle (symbolised by things like "the motor" and "the cash").
3. The British Landscape
Dover is a very symbolic place. The "chalky cliffs" are often seen as a symbol of British "whiteness" and protection. In this poem, the landscape feels both beautiful and slightly unwelcoming to the new arrivals.
Breakdown of Language and Imagery (AO2)
Nagra uses very specific word choices to create a sense of energy and conflict. Let’s look at some key examples:
- "Stowed in the sea to crown of the cape": This suggests they are hidden away like cargo. The "crown" might refer to the top of the cliffs, but also the British Monarchy, hinting at the country they are entering.
- "Cane-and-able": This is a pun (a play on words). It sounds like "Cain and Abel" from the Bible (the story of two brothers, one of whom kills the other), but it also suggests the physical "canes" or sticks used in manual labour. It shows that the immigrants are ready to work hard.
- "Blair’d in the cash": This references Tony Blair (the UK Prime Minister at the time). It suggests the political era they arrived in and the dream of financial success.
- "Thunderun" and "Rain-reins": Nagra creates new, compound words. This mimics the way a new speaker might invent words to describe things they don't have the "proper" vocabulary for yet. It makes the poem feel modern and alive.
Key Takeaway: The language is a "collision" of cultures. It is messy, loud, and proud—just like the experience of moving between two worlds.
Structure and Form
When you look at the poem on the page, notice its shape. It is written in five stanzas, each with five lines (quintets). However, the lines change length in a specific way: they start short, get longer in the middle, and then get short again at the end of the stanza.
Why does this matter? Many critics believe this shape mimics the movement of waves hitting the shore. This is a perfect visual metaphor for the immigrants arriving by boat, wave after wave, onto the English beach.
Making Connections (AO4)
In your exam, you will need to compare this poem to another one from the Poems of the Decade anthology. Here are some great pairing ideas:
- Compare with "The Deliverer" (Tishani Doshi): Both poems deal with displacement and moving from one culture to another. While Nagra’s poem is energetic and hopeful, Doshi’s poem is much darker and focuses on the trauma of being "given away."
- Compare with "The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled" (Leontia Flynn): Both poems explore the theme of journeys. You could compare how Nagra’s journey is about survival and identity, while Flynn’s is more about personal growth and "backpacking" culture.
- Compare with "Eat Me" (Patience Agbabi): Both poems use transgressive language and strong voices to challenge societal "norms." They both feature speakers who are often marginalized or "unseen" by the public.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the "broken" English as a mistake: Never say Nagra "doesn't know how to write proper English." He is a highly skilled poet. The non-standard syntax is a deliberate stylistic choice to represent the immigrant voice.
- Focusing only on the negatives: While the poem mentions being "huddled" and "stowed," it ends on a very positive note with the word "Winning." Don't ignore the sense of triumph and hope at the end.
- Forgetting the title: The title is a massive part of the poem's meaning. Always try to mention the references to Matthew Arnold or the "Punglish" grammar of the title in your essay.
Quick Review: Key Points
Voice: Energetic, "Punglish," collective ("we").
Setting: Dover, the gateway to Britain.
Structure: Wave-like stanzas (short-long-short lines).
Tone: Shifts from the struggle of the journey to the hope of integration.
Main Imagery: The sea, white cliffs, British pop culture, and manual labour.
Top Tip: If you find the vocabulary hard, try reading the poem out loud. Nagra wrote this to be heard! The rhythm often makes more sense when you hear the "clash" of the different words together.