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.