The Malham Bird

This is a love poem dedicated to Abse's wife in which he remembers a specific memory early in their relationship, and talks about how monumental their love was for his. He also talks about a 'malham bird' which is part of a Jewish legend about a bird that chose not to eat the forbidden fruit but was lonely, showing how he is satisfied with his life choices. The stanzas are irregular apart from the last which is cut short possibly connoting the death of his wife. 

Stanza 1:

-'clarity' suggests he understood what life was about with her/ understood her completely and saw clearly their love. Also suggests their love bought things into perspective. 

-'marvels' suggests they are wonderful memories, their relationship was a great thing. 

-'long summer' suggests there were lots of good times and he remembers it well. 

-'gentile' 'Jew' suggests they has differences but still loved each other. Alternatively he saw her as better than him. 

-'news' suggests she was a great event in his life, so much so he felt the world should know. 

-'the great world had been reinvented' shows his positive attitude and she chaned everything. 

-'we were new' shows the power of love. 

Stanza 2:

-'dear wife' shows he is addressing her directly, and he still loves her dearly he is affectionate and sensitive. 

-'remember' introduces the memories they are looking back at. 

-'illicit' shows their passion and may suggest their families didn't approve of their love. 

-'rented room...hidden beach' shows an adventure they had together, which was secluded.

-'tame seagull that seemed a portent' is a sign strong message showing their love was meant to be and important, a life changing relationship. A symbol that it is right. Also suggests they have freedom together ( unlike malham)

-'as if Dafydds ghost had sent it' reinforces it as meant to be as he is a known love poet. 

Stanza 3:

-'we lay on our shadows' suggests they are at one with each other, 2 become 1. Also suggests they were living in the moment and comfortable with each other as they were well fit for each other. 

- 'naked' physically and metaphorically they are bearing themselves to each other. 

-'more than together' suggests their love is magical. 

-'saw high in the blue' freedom, together their world is opened up, peaceful imagery. 

-'two chalk lines kiss and slowly disappear' May suggest their love will not last forever or that it will be eternal even without physical presence. 

-'Chalk' is a mark you make on purpose, is natural but is not eternal.

-'the friendly gull swooped down, magnified, near' shows how they were happy together at this point felt free but had each other close. 

Stanza 4:

-'three grandchildren later' shows they lived a happy an fulfilled life. 

-'black feathered bird' suggests negativity linking to its loneliness, contrasts with friendly seagull. 

-'malham of Eden' was lonely in paradise suggests you have to take risks to be happy like marriage which the bird couldn't experience. Abse is happy with his choices. 

-'others' show how other people have each other. 

Stanza 5:

-'lonely, immortal' bird shows Abse is happy with his choices, glad he took risk with his wife. 

Links:

-send no money, being tricked out of life

- dockers/selfs the man, life choices 

-goes against 'talking in bed'/wild oats 

- reference back/ love songs in age memories. 

Postcard to his Wife

In this poem Abse reminisces over his dead wife. It has a sad tone as it takes about the themes of love and marriage as Abse describes his sadness that he can no longer reach his wife. The women contrasts casual comments about his wife, suggesting she may only be on holiday as suggested by the title, with the reality of his loneliness. For the majority of the poem talks about all the wonderful things he would do if she was with him, as an attempt to communicate with her. There is no rhyme scheme which suggests a lack of control showing she is out of Abse's reach. 

Stanza 1:

• 'wish you were here' is a phrase commonly used oen postcard, however becomes more profound here as we know she is dead. The use of a short sentance and ceasura emphasizes this, and connotes the bluntness of death, and the way he has to move on as the poem continues. 
• 'it's a calm summer's day' shows he is trying to describe his day to her, so it can be like she is with him. 
• 'dulcamara of memory' translated directly means bitter sweet, showing the happiness and pain in looking back. It is a treatment for a disease suggesting his memories can't cure his pain. 
• 'not enough' shows how much he misses her. 
• 'i confess' shows he his unveiling his emotions to her, which is easier through a postcard, as he has a need to tell her everything, he knows her well that she would be unhappy he is unhappy. 
• 'i know the impoverishness of self' shows he is nothing without her.
• 'venus de milo is only stone' being a greek sculpture of love and beauty, shows this is no longer part of his life, he doesnt beleive in it any more and without her he is pessimistic, sees no good. 'stone' is cold and hard reflecting his emotions. 

Stanza 2:

• 'so come home' is an imperitive, emphasised with full stop showing his anger at her death. He is trying to fool himself that she can come back to make himself feel better, he is desperate for her. 
• 'the bed's to big!' uses sad humour talking about fickle things inan attempt to make himself feel better, make her laugh. Also suggests life alone no longer fits him, he cant adjust. 
• 'make excuses' suggests he feels death is something she can get out of, makes it sound casual. 
• 'hint we are agents in an obscure drama' is a ridiculous fantasy, reinforcing her being alive not being real. 
• 'to climb 2000 feet' suggests if she was alive they would make the most of it, not just stay at home.

Stanza 3:

• 'Anything' shows clearly his desperation.
• 'we'll motor, just you, just me' suggests he needs no one else but her, he wants her to himself and that he is only asking for a small thing, just life.
• '...through the dominion of Silurian cornfields' suggests if she was alive he would make the most of life with her, with wild adventures, perhaps the things they said they'd do but never did, or the things they used to do. 
• 'twisting narrow lanes' suggests he wants the wild and unexpected. 
• 'hedges have wild business with roses and clematis!' is romantic, possibly representing their relationship, her being a beautiful rose, he wants to experience unexpected. 'Wild' contrasts with orderly 'business' suggesting this adventure is out of their control. 

Stanza 4:

• 'or we could...' suggests he will do anything to make her happy. 
• 'blond sand dunes' is a romantic setting. 
• 'mimic the old gods who enacted the happy way to be holy' suggests the key to happiness is through love.
• 'mimic' may suggest they would try and be a better couple, or if they did right by god they could have their lives. 
• 'meanwhile' introduces a change in tone, sadder and more realist from fantasy to fact. 
• 'dear' is an affectionate word addressing her directly. 
• 'your husband' shows he belongs to her, dead or alive.
• 'uxorious' shows his devoting to his wife. 
• 'absense can't male Abse's heart grow fonder' shows he loves her to his limit and absense just brings him pain. Speaking in third person possibly to detach himself from this pain. 

Links:

• reference back
• love songs in age
• an arundel tomb

A Figure of 8

This poem talks about Abse's childhood, how he as a young person tried to break free and express himself and he found it hard within the constraints of a classroom and his daily routine as a young boy. It contains the themes of rebellion and cynicism as well as imagination vs reality, as when the boy leaves the classroom his imagination runs wild. The title could reference the cyclical nature of life, its repetitiveness which imagination breaks or simply say a figure of eight years old, referencing to his younger self.

Stanza 1:

• 'In Mr Theophillise's jail' shows how the classroom was seen as a prison. 
• 'sun striped classroom' suggests it is shut away from nature, that you just get a glimpse while the 'stripes' reinforces the idea of prison bars/uniform. 
• 'half listens to a story' suggests his mind is going elsewhere, the lesson isn't fun or interesting or even real, so he doesnt care. Suggests you shouldnt just be educated by the classroom, elsewhere too. 
• 'royalty-loving Christopher Robin' suggests they are drumming societies ideas into children e.g. monarchy, and even the innocent childrens stories have hidden messages which. Also shows these stories are not representitive of reality.
• 'musical scales' shows a strict structure to school life.
• 'Fatty Jones' childish nicknames shows how school is not necessarily a good place to be.
• 'God bless the Prince of Wales' shows opinions being put into their minds. 

Stanza 2:

• 'free, at last' school is a waste of time. 
• 'he jet-roars out of school' shows he can't wait to leave, his youth and suggests he should be out in the air not stuck inside. 
• 'vigorous sunset' may suggest rules seem good but in reality are too vigorous, sunset is end of freedom and fun which is hard to take or could suggest even simple pleasures of the outside world to the boy seem exciting. 
• 'millenium stadium' superimposes new onto the old, suggests he is living a fantasy.
• 'flies to Africa to see naked women' is inapropriate for his age, showing urge to grow up and see things he doesnt learn about in school, fun things.
• 'farts H2Ss' shows his immaturity and references what he learns at school making it seem useless. 

Stanza 3:

• 'evening's shot down in flames' is war imagery used, ambiguous whether it is imagination or reality. War is something teachers don't tell children about at school, they just teach them fairy stories, their reality becomes fantasy. 'evening' is the end of something, perhaps childhood. 
• 'someone has bombed the park' would be sinister if he is imagining or a harsh reality. 

Stanza 4:

• using park imagery to take things from reality and twist them with imagination, as a child does. 
• 'the swings are on fire' may suggest the death of childhood or growing up, or reality overcoming thoughts. 
• 'the enemy' repeated suggests ideas about war are drummed into the childrens head, enemy isnt given name suggesting it is 'empty' from the childs perspective.
• 'wooden horses are running wild' confuses reality with imagination and suggests a need freedom.

Stanza 5:

• 'furnace in the churchyard' suggests bodies are burning linking to rebellion and cynicism also suggesting they are going to hell because of war. 
• 'sorcerer' shows him imagining something sinister, magic reference shows immaturity. 
• 'mandrake' could be a childlike reference to a fantasy or could suggest you shouldnt take children away from something natural to them, like their childhood or imagination. 
• 'the graves are sinking down to hell' shows clear perssimism. 

Stanza 6:

• 'spaceship' shows his childishness' and may possibly show naivety if it is really a war plane. 
• 'another world' shows a childs limited perspective on life. 
• 'the pond is poisoned by the dew' reinforces idea of ending something innocent/pure like childhood. 
• 'the boy comes home to base' suggests he is trying to make war fun like a game, but its not. Could suggest a search for security at home. 

Stanza 7:

• 'observed by his patient cat' suggests he is insignificant, nobody really cares about his childhood angst. 
• 'he chalks across the garden shed' shows a limp attempt at rebellion, naive as chalk can wash off easily. 
• 'FUCK WINNIE THE POOH' shows the uselessness of stuff taught in the classroom, and an attempt to be adult with his language. 
• 'for...fatty jones' shows kidz stick togevs. 

Links:

• agressive tone at end-'sunny prestatyn'
• Larkin doesnt tell personal stories unlike Abse
• rebellion, fantasy and dislike of childishness -'A study of reading habits'

The Death of Aunt Alice

In this poem Abse reminisces over his Aunt who has recently died. He begins by talking about how normal and uneventful her death and funeral was, and continues to reminisce over the wat this is not true to her, as she was so dramatic and lively telling lots of gory stories. The poem has quite a depressing tone as it reminds us that we all die, and have little choice in it. 

Stanza 1:

-'orderly''correct''decent' suggests the death was normal and boring and the 'correct' thing isn't always the best. 

-'beserk with an axe' is almost wistful as he reminisces over one of her stories. 

-'Poor Alice, where's your opera ending' suggests she deserved better, would be disappointed but 'opera' is not real life. 

-'you relished high catastrophe' shows she was obsessed with death and although she loved the stories on 'page one of a newspaper' it's not the same when it is happening to her, not so enjoyable. 

-'newspaper' being her 'bible' shows how unusual and individual she was with her own values. 

Stanza 2:

-'talked of typhoid when we sat to eat' shows she was not everyone's cup of tea, and the bad memories of her Abse now relishes. Also she was almost a hypochondriac, always focusing on bad. 

-'you fatigued us' suggests she wasn't appreciated when she was alive, linking to 'reference back'. 

-'boeings bubbling under seas' is a type of plane showing the detail in her stories, alliteration emphasises it is almost fantasy, not real as death isn't so interesting in real life. 

-'vague shapes' shows they didn't know the full story, it wasn't entirely real or could suggest as they don't know the people it happened to the full story they can enjoy it. 

-'fatigue' repeated shows the repetition of their stories. 

Stanza 3:

-'disguises and transformations' shows she wasn't a realist, they were good stories but not true, truth isn't so fun. 

-'trees were but factories' comparing nature negatively to industry links to Larkin. 

-'rose' and other natural things being described as dangerous and painful, suggests death is nature and pain is natural. 

-'bore you by dying naturally' suggests normal deaths aren't worth hearing about but this doesn't fit for him as his aunt is worth hearing about. 

Stanza 4:

-'A' 'C' makes the stories sound unrealistic and not giving names detaches them from dead/pain. Could suggest it has happened so much names are no longer worth remembering. 

-'never had a head for height' shows the dramatic irony in her stories. 

Stanza 5:

-'now, never again' shows death is definitive. 

-'you utter gory admonition a as some do oaths' shows what makes her individual her stories are er religion/way of life. 

-'admonitions' means warnings, she was trying to help. 

-'disasters that lit your eyes' suggests she enjoys disaster linking to Selfs the Man. 

-'pale saints' have to be whiter than white to put up with her, or could connote fear because of stories. 

-'bloody martyrdoms' shows her extremes. 

-'tall stories your identity' suggests her stories will be the thug that lasts in memory, she will live through them. 

Links:

-'days' death is coming for us all

-'reference back' 'love songs in age' looking back at people you love

-'a study of reading habits' reality vs imagination 

The Game

This poem is about the football team Abse supports, Cardiff FC. It talks about the fans and the passion with which they support their team and oppose the other teams. 

Abse uses religious comparisons to emphasise the passion with which fans support their team. For example  'cheer the good and hiss at parting evil' demonstrates the rivalry between the two teams reinforced as the opposing team is described as 'lucifer' and 'demons' and 'Mephistopheles'. 'Demons have agents' that 'bribe' the ref suggests they are ungodly because they don't play fair. 

The comradery of the fans is presented as they as described as 'our' suggesting they are one united force. 'Hoompa' reinforces the positive atmosphere and the match day slang. 'Jugular fans' suggests they are roudy and noisy while 'injured beast' reinforces them being one being and suggests they are wild and ferocious with a lack of reason suggesting they are almost primitive in their fandom. It also shows they are loosing. After the match, the loss clearly has a big effect on them as 'clean programmes are trampled under foot' showing their annoyance can be destructive 'trampled' reinforcing them being animalistic. Furthermore 'natural the dark, appropriate the rain' suggests the environment should reflect their mood which is pained and depressed showing how deeply they take the loss. Also it is as if the seasons revolve around this match, connoting how it is a big part of the fans lives and they take it to heart. This is reinforced as 'under lamposts, threatening newsboys shout' comes across almost like a boast, and they feel so down that it seems everyone else in is in light while they are in the gloom. 'Threatening' hints at their violence suggesting they may be looking for a fight, or could suggest they take every loss personal. The heat and passion of these football fans is suggested as 'a hundred matches spark' also showing a lot of games happen here, the meaning behind the football for the players is reinforced as they are 'in a ballet dancers pose' suggesting it is an art form to the fans. Alternatively as this is describing a player on the opposing team, it may suggest he is being made a mockery of as football is meant to be manly. 

Links:

MCMXIV-soldiers compared to football fans, footballers compared to devils=contrast

Water- looks at the idea of religion

An Arundal tomb- worshiping something may not necessarily be a good thing 

'Talking in bed' something you love turning cold 

Two Photographs

In this poem the persona looks at two photos of his different grandmothers and talks about although they are very different her appreciates them both for their individuality and loves them both the same. The poem talks about the passing of time and memories and the identity of these two women. 

Stanza 1:

• 'how slim' first thing mention about grandma, gives first impressions and suggests this reflects her personality. 
• 'pretty' 'slim' 'vulnerable' are mens expectations of women, Doris contrasts this being 'portly formiddable handsome' showing they are the oppisite but he celebrates them both. 
• Outfits are used to show more about their character Annabella has a 'demure black frock...amber brooch' whereas Doris has a 'lacy black gown...string of pearls' showing they are equally valuable in different ways and this impression of them lasts through time. Use of synonyms shows how he loves them the same way and they had simalar things and lives but did them differently. Doris' outfit is in the second stanza reinforcing the contrast. Abse could be questioning the way we judge people's personality on the way they dress. 

Stanza 2:

• locations and dates of photos are given, but no further details, suggesting Abse doesn't actually no that much about them as most of his discriptions are limited to about the photographs. 
• 'both were told to say 'cheese'; one, defiant said 'chalk!'' reinforces the way they live similar lives but are very different. The women are chalk and cheese, so complete opposites. 

Stanza 3:

• repitition of p when describing both women reinforces despite thier diffrenences they were loved the same, one 'pacy, pushy' the other 'pious, passive' not necessarily positive words but show affection.
• one 'dammed' the other with a 'devilish laugh' linking to the way women judge eachother and said with affection showing they both have fault but Abse doesn't care.

Stanza 4:

• 'not for the commencement of a duel' shows how they don't get on, but he doesn't want them to right, just wants to keep his memories alive. 
• 'who was taller' shows he's embracing differences. suggests a rivalry and competition. 
• 'eau de cologne grandmothers, with buns of grey hair' emphasizes their similarities. 
• 'seem illusory, fugitive, like a dream' shows it is hard to remember it seems not real anymore. 
• 'dust that secretively flows in sudden sunbeam' metaphor for memories coming at certain times, but you can't control or summon them, they come on their own accord.  
• 'seived' leaky' suggests memories can be easily lost, losing details. 

Stanza 5:

• 'loved' shows his affection for both of them.'whats survived' shows even though they were loved they will be forgotton.  
• 'an amber brooch, a string of pearls, two photographs' shows only the physical things survive but from these you can remember them as they are symbols of their personality.suggests only material things will keep them alive which is sad. 
• 'who' would be so insignificant to his grandchildren, it was as if they 'never lived', but are so important to him as without them he would not exist. People can only stay alive through memories so he feels they are important to keep himself alive. If you forget about your family and where you came from it no longer exists. 

Links:

• 'for sidney bechet' celebration of a life
• 'love songs in age' remembering through objects
• 'wild oats' looking at two photographs, comparing women

A Wall

This poem is about a wall and what it means. It as about searching for a meaning and purpose for everything instead of just accepting it for what it is, particularly this wall which has no purpose but has become a beautiful part of nature. 
Stanza 1:

• 'in a field' is general and vague.
• 'you won't find it' makes it mean nothing to us makes us question the point.
• 'plock' onomatopoeia qives it comical and light hearted tone. 
• 'lies' personification making it sound made up. 
• 'high as your eyes' suggests the wall changes depending on the person, the perspective, it is as good as you want it to be.
• 'no reason' 'no place' repition makes it sound pointless to us, see no good in it. 
• 'no other walls' makes it alone and shows the way we search for its purpose. 
• 'seemingly unremarkable' suggests you have to look closer to see why its special. Suggests it has no significance, but this may not be a reason not to talk about it. 
• 'stone of different sizes, different greys' suggests it doesnt fit in, it is different therefore people dont understand that.Is not one specific thing therefore can't be categorised. 

Stanza 2:

• 'don't say this wall is useless' demonstrates you should not judge things straight away. 
• 'the grass on the shadow side is much like the other' suggests if you look closely you can see differences, meaning.
• 'it exists for golden lichins to settle' suggests it has become part of nature, a home for things, 'golden' showing a positive view of nature, like Larkin, and suggesting there is meaning in this. Suggests this wall is meant to be derelift, taken over by nature, this is a meaning on its own. 
• 'for butterflies' 'for huddling sheep' shows there is meaning in things that seem fickle, it is for nature, and nature is beautiful and meaningful and should not be overlooked, Larkin 'here'. 
• 'this wall is beautiful' there is beauty in nature doesnt have to have clear purpose to be appreciated making the first stanza irrelevant. 

Links:

• 'nothing to be said' 'days' meaningless is not a bad thing, dont question things. 
• 'first sight' 'here' talking about nature and hope