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