An Elegy for Dylan Thomas

This poem by Dannie Abse is about the admiration and adoration that he has towards Dylan Thomas. Therefore, I believe that the main themes in this poem are passion and admiration. I feel that this poem links to 'For Sidney Bechet' as both poets focus on someone that they look up to and adore. However, it can also link to 'Mr Bleaney' as both poems talk about somebody else's life where the writer is removed from the poem.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the way the poet focused on Thomas' marriage throughout. This can be seen in "Death was his voluntary marriage", "whiskey-meadows of her breath". This suggests that Dylan Thomas had an unhappy marriage that was fuelled by alcohol leading to arguments between the two. There is also a focus in this poem that this marriage has changed his and that nothing can bring him back to the way he was before. This can be seen in "not even for the sake of love can his true energy come back". The sense that he will never be the way he was before can also be portrayed in "stranger" which suggests that Dylan Thomas is now unrecognisable compared to how he was before.
In this poem there is no regular rhyme scheme which I feel could reflect his rocky marriage and the way that his life and marriage has been affected by alcohol.
The structure of the poem is also uneven which could portray the uneven and uncertain path that his life had to offer.

The Death of Aunt Alice

'The Death of Aunt Alice' by Dannie Abse is about the persona remembering his Aunt's funerals and the memories that they shared together. Therefore I believe that the main themes in this poem are loss, love and memory. 

One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the quotes "relished high catastrophe" and "dressed in black" quite interesting as the first quote suggests that Alice used to stand out from the crowd however the last quote suggests that although she did stand out, we all still end up in the same place which is death. The fact that she stood out can also be supported by "where's your opera ending?" as it suggests that everybody expected more from Alice in her last few days due to the personality and character that she had.

Another thing that I found interesting was the way the persona remembers his Aunt talking about gory deaths in stanza 4 and how in the last stanza the persona says "Disasters that lit your eyes will no more". This suggests that Aunt Alice's life was quite dramatic and drastic but it can also represent the callousness of life. This can be linked to Larkin's poem "Take one home for the kiddies" through the quote "mam, we're playing funerals now" which also shows the callousness of life. 

At Ogmore-by-Sea this August Evening

I believe that this poem is about the loss that Abse feels towards his father and how this links to music. Therefore I believe that the main themes in this poem are family, loss and music.
I feel that this poem through the loss of his father can link to 'Reference Back' as both poems show a connection to their loved one through music. In 'Reference Back' it is Larkin's mother.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the focus on music throughout the poem. This can be seen in "Bach", "violinist and violin", "music summons night" and "solemn record". "Solemn record" can also link to the loss of his father with the music now reflecting his mood and feelings.
Another thing that I found interesting was the quote "Here, Father, here, tonight" as it suggests that Abse can not let go of his father and is extremely saddened by his loss. It also seems as though his world has been made smaller and less important which can also be seen in "nothing but the tumult of the sea" which suggests that all that he has left with him now is the noise that the sea produces and that nothing else of his memory with his father still remains.
Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the quote "ordered carnival" which is an oxymoron as it suggests organised chaos which can not happen.

Sons

I believe that Sons is about the connection and the relationship that Abse shares with his son and the positivity that he has for his family. 'Sons' I believe also shows a comparison between the life that his son leads and the life that Abse led and his age. Therefore, the main themes that I believe are in this poem are relationships, love and family.
Due to this, I believe that this immediately links to 'Dockery and Son' by Larkin, as Larkin is very negative towards family and the thought of bringing up children whereas Abse is very positive towards family and the connection that you feel between yourself and your children. The shows a comparison between Abse and Larkin. You can also link 'Sons' to 'Afternoons' by Larkin through the inclusion of children in both poems.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the rhyme scheme that Abse chose to use. This can be seen in "way" and "day"; "dash" and "brash"; "hide", "abide" and "side" and "quite", "night" and "bright". This rhyme scheme is regular which suggests that his relationship with his son is also and that there is a parallel connection between the father and son.
Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the line "Too soon maturity will switch off your night". I believe that this suggests that Abse is trying to warn his son to spend his time wisely and to enjoy being young while he can. I also feel that Abse wishes he was still at that age when things were easier than they are now. This also links in with the line "Now my son is like that" which suggests that when he was that age, he was doing the exact same thing. This could suggest that linking with the first line that he wishes he'd have done things differently and this is therefore why he is warning his son not to do the same.
I also found the structure quite interesting as the first stanza focuses on the reflection of his own life while the rest of the stanzas focus on his son's life.

Imitations

I believe that 'Imitations' by Abse is about family and the intimacy within relationships between parent and child. I believe that the main themes in this poem are family, love and relationships. This therefore links to another poem by Dannie Abse called 'Sons' as both poems link to the same idea.
I feel that 'Imitations' can be linked to 'Dockery and Son' by Larkin as they both talk about family however, Abse reflects on family in a positive way whereas Larkin is quite negative towards the idea of family. You can also link 'Afternoons' in with 'Imitations' as they are both focus on children and the parents connection.
One thing that I found interesting about this poem was the line "He is my chameleon, my soft diamond, my delicious evergreen". This is a rule of three which refelcts how much his son means to him. He also uses a metaphor with each description which provides quite a calming and peaceful image.

Return to Cardiff

'Return to Cardiff' I feel is about the familiarity of travelling back to your home town but also the conflict between past and present and how you notice how much things have changed in your life since you were last at home.

One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the rhyme scheme that Abse chose to use. Abse chooses to use a regular rhyme scheme that is as follows; A,A; B,B etc. I believe that this shows the support and comfort that Abse feels when he is back in Cardiff. I feel as though it almost acts as a comfort blanket keeping him safe from his life. However, in stanza 2 Abse chooses to use a half-rhyme in "raid" and "façade". I believe that as this stanza shows how he was surprised at how unfamiliar Cardiff had become to him and chose to show this through the rhyme. I also feel that the rhyme scheme suggests this as it still has a rhyme to it which shows that it is still his home and where he belongs however he now feels that it is less familiar to how it was when he was younger.

Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the quote "boy I was not and the man I am not", which shows a conflict between past and present. This shows how much Cardiff has changed, and how Abse now does not believe he ever fully fitted in. This links in with 'Dockery and Son' by Larkin as that too shows the conflict between past and present. Conflict can also be seen in "what I wanted to be as much for what it unashamedly is" which suggests a contrast between reality and his illusion of how things should be.

There is also an emphasis on how your home town makes you who you are and this can be seen in "first everything". I believe that this suggests that your home town is where you experience things for the first time and that this is where you gain your much needed life experience before moving away.

I also feel that Abse does not feel as comfortable as he used to in Cardiff. This can be seen in "mislaid identities" as this suggests that Cardiff is no longer now he remembers it and that he no longer sees a familiar face when he returns to Cardiff.

I believe that this poem does not only link to 'Dockery and Son' but also 'Here' as both poems are centred around certain places that mean something to the author and their home. 

Blond Boys

'Blond Boys' by Abse is about his first love and the rejection he faced from her. It also shows a memory of when they were at school and how he acted when she was around. Therefore, I believe that the main themes in this poem are love, time and rejection.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the way that Abse has shown time passing from the last time he saw Eva Jones. This can be seen in "small blond grandson". This shows that it has been many years since they last met but also that Eva Jones fell in love with someone that isn't the persona. Time passing can also be seen in "Eva Jones, remember me? My acne. Your dimples". This suggests that although all this time has passed Abse still cares for Eva and remembers the finer details about her such as her dimples. I also believe that it is childhood where they were met through the line "first shy love" which suggests that she was his childhood sweetheart. This idea can also be seen in "I held my breath" which could suggest that he adored her and did not know what to do when she was around. It can also suggest that he was too shy to talk to her.
I believe that 'Blond Boys' can link to 'Wild Oats' through the idea of rejection and idealisation. This can be seen in 'Blond Boys' through the quote "I prefer, um, blond boys beside" which suggests that Eva rejected him for her idealistic view of who she expected to be with which can link to 'Wild Oats' through Larkin's idealistic view of women.

Cricket Ball

I believe that this poem by Dannie Abse is about the passion that he has towards the sport Cricket. Therefore, I believe that the main themes in this poem are passion and love.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the play on words used in "biggest hit with me". I found this interesting as in cricket you have to hit the ball as hard as you can however in this phrase Abse has chose to use it to show the impact that cricket has had on him which shows the passion he has for the sport.
In the line at the start "1935, I watched" it shows that Abse is recalling his fondest memory of going to watch a cricket match. This can also be seen in the first four stanzas as he is recapping what happened to him when he went to this cricket match.
I also found the lines "sound of summer" and "applauding ground" quite interesting as it is personification as he is suggesting that the cricket meant so much that the ground was applauding and it was like the sound of summer. This again shows the passion that Abse has for the sport and the adoration he feels towards it.
The last stanza in this poem I believe shows the present time which is in contrast from the other stanzas in the poem. This can be seen in "The years, too, gone like change". However, the line "I smell cut grass" links back to the memory as it is using the senses to show a connection to his memory.
The last line also shows his passion towards cricket as it says "I shine an apple on my thigh" which is what the players do with a cricket ball before throwing it. It is also a metaphor as apples are red and usually cricket balls are as well.
'Cricket Ball' links to 'For Sidney Bechet' by Larkin as both poets express their passion and adoration towards both sport and music through their poetry.

Two Photographs

This poem by Dannie Abse is about the love that he feels for his both his grandmothers and although they were completely different characters he still shared the same amount of love for them both. This poem is also about memory as the photographs referred to in the title are what takes him back to this memory. Therefore, I believe that the key themes in this poem are memory and love.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the descriptions that Abse chose to use when describing both grandmothers. Annabella is described as "How slim" and "vulnerable" whilst Doris is described as "How portly" and "formidable". Abse chooses to describe the two women with a similar pattern showing that the love that he has for Annabella and Doris is symmetrical. This can also be seen in "Annabella fasted-pious, passive" and "Doris feasted-pacy, pushy". This again shows a parallel listing  which has produced a vivid memory with a tone of celebration coming through. The equal love that Abse had for the two women can be also be seen in "I liked Doris, I liked Annabella".
Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the way Abse chose to use the senses when talking about his grandparents. An example of this is "withered rose" and "my Eau de Cologne grandmothers" which shows his sense of smell. The quote "I dreamed" is also quite interesting as it shows the inner life of a poet and the personal thoughts that they connect with through their dreams.
Lastly, I also found the question in the poem of "Who?" significant as it shows that when people pass away they only exist in the minds of those who knew and loved them. Therefore, there is a sense of loss in this poem as well.
'Two Photographs' can link to many different poems by Larkin. It can link to 'Mr Bleaney' and 'Dockery and Son' through the portrayal of two persona's but it can also link to 'Love Songs in Age' This is due to the fact that in both poems there is a memento or souvenir which triggers a memory and in this case it is the photographs. This is also the case of 'Reference Back'. However, through the fact that there is a contrast of two women in 'Two Photographs', it can also link to 'Self's the Man'. The line "sudden sunbeam (sieved through leaky curtains)" can link to 'Home Is So Sad' through the use of concrete nouns providing a memory.
I believe that this poem by Abse is celebrating the diversity of women and the love and fondness from Abse towards women. This is unlike Larkin as he celebrates the superficiality of women.
 

Reference Back

I believe that this poem is about how music can take you back to a moment in time and remind you of what you were doing then. Therefore it seems to be a poem about time and ageing. I believe that the main themes in this poem are love, relationships and music.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the rhyme scheme that Larkin chose to use. At the start there is a regular rhyme scheme with the end of each line rhyming such as "call" and "hall" and "you" and "to". This could suggest that the song produces such a vivid memory for his mother as she remembers it quite clearly. However, in the last stanza of the poem the first four lines do not have any rhyme which could suggest that the poem has gone into a more philosophical aspect rather than his mother's memory. By the last two lines the regular rhyme scheme is returned with "though" and "so" as the poem has reached an epiphany.
One thing that I found interesting about this poem was the use of the word "unsatisfactory". This could suggest that their age is unsatisfactory as he is looking back with with his mother who has now grown old. The house could also be unsatisfactory for the persona as he is still by his mother's side at his mother's house.
Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the difference in what the song reminds them of. For his mother it reminds her of her youth and what she was doing at the time whilst for the persona it reminds him that he still lives at home with his mother as he would have been there when he first heard the song.
This reminds me of other poems by Larkin such as 'Talking in Bed' as it shows them talking yet separated and isolated whilst in 'Reference Back' it shows them together in time yet separated by the memory that the song provides them with.

Musical Moments 2. Outside a Graveyard (1989)

I believe that this poem is about the loss that Dannie Abse is feeling towards the death of his piano teacher 'Miss Crouch'. This immediately shows a contrast from 'Musical Moments 1' as it shows empathy towards his piano teacher as he feels that he should have been more respectful towards her and stuck with learning piano longer. I believe that they key themes in this poem are music and regret.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the way the persona said "Sorry Miss Crouch". This could suggest that he is apologising as now that he has grown up he understands things better and is regretting the fact that he did not carry on with his piano lessons. It also shows that he still refers to her in the way he did when he was younger suggesting that he is an observer in this poem.
I also found the time in which this was written quite significant as the year is "1989" showing that a lot of time has passed since his first piano lesson. This in addition to the quotes "dismissed forever" and "Wagnerian Funeral March". This suggests that a long with regret that the persona is feeling, he is also feeling the loss of his piano teacher.
I also get the feeling from this poem that the persona is now a great lover of music as he states "the piano triumphantly rising between the clouds, higher and higher". This could suggest that with the loss of his piano teacher it has encouraged him to carry on with the music for her.
I believe that this poem links in with 'Send No Money' by Larkin as in this poem, Larkin states that the persona  regrets wasting time whereas in 'Musical Moments 2', Abse states that the persona regrets not taken more of an interest in music as a young child. Both poems are also observations on life as both persona's are acting as the observer.

Musical Moments 1. His Last Piano Lesson (1933)

I believe that this poem is about the persona's father forcing music upon his by making him take piano lessons as a young child and throughout this poem we see the boredom that this boy is put through as he does not enjoy his music lessons. I believe that the main themes in this poem are music and identity as I believe that music has become part of his identity.
One of the things that interested me about this poem was the phrase "numbly bored" as it suggests that the persona was incredibly bored of the piano lesson that he was in that his body had become numb which could suggest that he had no feeling towards music at this young time. This feeling of boredom can also be supported with the quote "pointless cries of children" as it suggests that he wants to be elsewhere with the other children rather than being in his piano lesson. I also found the use of the word "coffin" interesting as it could emphasise even further his boredom as it could link with the phrase bored to death.
The piano lesson has been forced upon by his father and this has therefore led him to lose interest in music as after his first piano lesson his father declares "That's his last piano lesson". This could suggest that the child found it hard to become interested in anything so sophisticated at such a young age and would have rather been with the other children.
I believe that this poem links in with 'A Study of Reading Habits' as this shows Larkin's boredom towards reading whilst 'Musical Moments 1' shows Abse's boredom towards music.

At the Concert

'At the Concert' is about the persona being at a concert but his thoughts are elsewhere. Within this poem, Abse also portrays his views about life and how we all live our lives for the same purpose. I believe that the main themes in this poem are observations as Abse comments on his interpretations of life but also music as his thoughts take place whilst he is at a concert which could suggest that the music reminds him of a certain aspect in his life.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was how the first few stanzas present normal life and everyday tasks. This can be seen in "Only yesterday while walking" and "same old grass".This could suggest that Abse is observing towards life and even whilst being at a concert his mind is wandering to what he would normally be doing. Another thing that can be seen in this poem is that it shows how we all wait for something to happen in our lives rather than making something happen. This can be seen in "Do you wait, as I do". This could suggest that everyone is stuck in their lives whilst they wait for what we want. This sense of being stationary in life can be seen with the choice of words that Abse chose to use such as "motionless", "static" and "numb". This could also show that the persona is stuck in the moment due to the fact that he is at a concert and cannot do the things he has been putting off from doing. This can be supported by the fact that there is no rhyme scheme used suggesting that there is no regularity in his life and that nothing is going anywhere for him.
I also found the line "someone shouts bravo" quite interesting as it shows that the persona was in a daydream and only this has managed to take him from that daydream. He seems to be in a daydream as whilst he is at the concert, his thoughts seem to be somewhere else. This can be seen in "While my cat back home". This links in with Larkin's poem 'Broadcast' as it is two people listening to the same music but in different places whilst this is him listening to music but his thoughts being elsewhere.
There are also rhetorical questions used in this poem which relates the poem back to the reader. This can be seen in "And how's your life?". This makes you question your own life and whether or not it is going anywhere or if your life is stuck like the persona.

Red Balloon

I believe that this poem is about Dannie Abse's beliefs and the bullying that he was a victim of due to being Jewish in Wales. Therefore, I believe the key themes in this poem are beliefs and identity as Abse's religion has made him the man he is.
One of the things that interested me about the structure of this poem was the rhyme scheme that Abse chose to use. The rhyme scheme is regular as the first and last lines of each stanza either rhyme of half-rhyme. This can be seen in "joy" and "toy" and "stood" and "blood". This linked in with the regular stanza pattern of four lines each could suggest that Abse's religion and beliefs are what gives his life structure and purpose.
This poem represents many views that Dannie Abse has about his religion and one of these can be seen in "It was my shame, it was my joy". This is a paradox which could suggest that being Jewish brings out the best and worst in him. The idea that his religion brings out the best in him can be supported with the quote "soared" which suggests that his religion and belief increases his happiness. It can also be seen in this poem that being Jewish made Abse the man he is as he states that being Jewish "cannot be denied".
However, throughout this poem it is not just his opinion that we find out about his beliefs but that of others and how they treated Dannie Abse. This can be seen in "give up your red balloon" which suggests that people were not respecting towards his religion so made it clear that they wanted him to give up his religion. It would have hard for Abse to have been accepted as a Jew in Wales at the time when Anti-Semitism was high so would have therefore been a victim to bullying. It can also be seen that his religion would have surprised his neighbours and friends as he chose to use the phrase "startled town" in 'Red Balloon'. Abse has also chosen to use "bled my nose" as a way in which they treated him which relates to a stereotypical view of Jew's as they were accused of having 'long noses'.
'Red Balloon' links to 'Water' by Larkin as it links to the fact that both poems are centred around beliefs. They also link as in 'Water', Larkin is mocking religion whereas in 'Red Balloon' people are mocking Abse's beliefs and religion.

For Sidney Bechet

'For Sidney Bechet' by Larkin is about his love for the music made by Sidney Bechet. In this poem he shares the love and admiration that he has for this musician. Larkin does not seem to show as much admiration for anyone else in his life, yet he feels very passionately about jazz music. Therefore, the key themes that I believe can be seen in this poem are music and love.
I feel that this poem by Larkin has a more reflective and calmer tone to it compared with other works by Larkin which suggests even furthur the passion that Larkin feels towards jazz music.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the rhyme scheme that Larkin chose to use. It is an unusual rhyme scheme which is unexpected as at first you would expect a song based on jazz music to have a regular rhyme and beat to it. There are some full rhymes used in this poem such as "shakes" and "wakes" however there are also some half-rhymes used such as "should" and "understood". This also links in with the difference in the lengths of stanzas.
I believe that this poem links in with Dannie Abse's poem 'Elegy for Dylan Thomas' as both poets write about someone that they have admiration for and look up to. However, Dannie Abse also has love in other aspects of his life which is different from Phillip Larkin.
The romance can be seen in this poem through "balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles". This shows love and romance as a quadrille is dance that couples do. Love can also be seen in "everyone making love and going shares". This line is quite casual which suggests that romance can come easy to some couples if they are completely in love.
 

Love Songs in Age

'Love Songs in Age' by Larkin is about this widow finding these songbooks after sorting things out after the death of her husband. These songbooks then lead her to remember the memories that are brought back to her from the songs in these books. Therefore, one of the main themes that I can pick up from this poem is both music and relationships. 

One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the description of the songbooks when she first finds them. They are described as being "bleached", "marked", "mended" and "coloured". This suggests that they have not been looked after, that they have been neglected and that they have been taken for granted. They have also now been seen as part of the furniture as they have always been there. Although they have not been taken care, these descriptions suggest that they were happy memories that led to the neglect of the songbooks. This can be seen in "coloured, by her daughter" which shows that she had children suggesting that she had a happy family life which can also be supported by "circles by a vase of water". There is also a rhyme on the words "water" and "daughter" which produces a satisfying, chime sound. 

Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the personification used in "So they had waited". This suggests that the songbooks have patiently waited like loyal friends and they have jumped out at her to surprise her in her "widowhood". 

The second stanza seems to me that it is about the memories themselves that this woman remembers from the songbooks. One of the things that interested me about this was the way that she remembers them as honest and compares them to controlled music. This can be seen in "frank submissive". Another thing that interested me about this stanza was the quote "unfailing sense of being young". This suggests that she was full of life when she was young and had clarity that everything in her life was black and white. It also suggests that she had confidence of her future which was yet to come and that she was waiting for something to happy. However, it could also show memories from her youth that were full of hope and promise. This sense of life can also be seen in "spring-woken tree" which suggests rebirth and a new lease of life. 

However, in stanza three I believe the woman in her old age is beginning to see things more clearly and understands better to what reality is. This can be seen in "brilliance" which suggests a dazzling, blinding old age supporting what I have previously said. The end of this stanza is also quite sad as she is moved to tears as she remembers she has lost the love of her life, the love from her youth. This can be seen in "back, to cry". 

I believe that this poem links to 'Reference Back' as it shows a powerful connection suggesting that music forms a bridge between two different times; youth and old age. 

Broadcast

This poem by Larkin is a love poem featuring an emphasis on how music connects him to this woman. It also features some private jokes which show the connection between the couple even further. The private joke between them can be seen in "new,slightly-outmoded shoes" which shows a loving intimate side. This poem therefore links to 'Talking in Bed' as it shows the intimacy between two people even though they may not be together at the time. In 'Talking in Bed' they are in a "unique distance from isolation" however in 'Broadcast' the couple are in different places listening to the same music.
There were many literary devices used in this poem which I found interesting such as the effects used on the sounds that are portrayed throughout the poem. This can be seen in "whispering" and "coughing". The "gh" on these words are fricative sounds and are therefore onomatopoeic. There are also sibilant sounds used in this poem which can be seen in "sudden scuttle". This is also alliteration. Both these sounds produces quite a harsh sound such as throat-clearing noises. This harshness is also supported with the personification of the violins. This can be seen in "snivelling of the violins". This seems quite mournful and sad and creates quite a high-pitched noise such as crying.
I also found the metaphor used in the second stanza quite interesting as it presents a waterfall which shows slow movement which contrasts with the previous, quite harsh descriptions shown in stanza one. This can be seen in "Cascades of monumental slithering". This suggests that their love for one another is quite overwhelming and huge.

Wild Oats

This poem by Larkin presents his ideal relationship that he could achieve with a certain type of woman. It is presented as a dramatic monologue which shows an intimate relationship between the reader and the persona which shows that Larkin assumes that we are his confidante.
One of the main themes of this poem is relationship however rather the lust that Larkin prefers to love for women.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the way in which Larkin portrayed his stereotypes towards women. This can be seen in "friend in specs" as it suggests that the persona has limited stereotypes towards body parts and appearance and that he has quite a sexist view showing a shallowness attitudes to females. This can also be seen in "The whole shooting-match" as it is a metaphor as shooting-match signifies shooting birds/partridges. This suggests that Larkin sees women as something he can hunt which presents him as an image of a predatory male. You can also see the view that Larkin lusts over women through the phrase "fur gloves" as it suggests that he views them as an image of 'idealised' desire.
This poem can also be presented in a colloquial way as Larkin chooses to use words such as "About", "doubt" and phrases such as "I got back". This suggests that Larkin is quite casual when it comes to women and is not interested in having a long-term partner.
The rhyme scheme used within this poem as there is a half-rhyme used on the consonances that are in the poem. This can be seen in "snaps" and "perhaps" and "doubt" and "out".
I believe that this poem presents an uncompromising, idealist, rigid view that Larkin has on women and is not like Abse's poems which are in their own way romantic.

Ignorance, Days, Nothing To Be Said, Water, As Bas as a Mile, First Sight

From the poem by Larkin called ‘Ignorance’, I got the feeling that Larkin believes that you have to see something to believe it. This can be seen in “never to be sure of what is true or right or real”. This suggests that you can never be sure of anything in life to either believe it or discard it. The title of this poem also suggests an uncertain approach to the poem as the word ignorance means uninformed and unaware. Throughout the poem there is a focus on abstract thoughts rather than concrete lexis. This could suggest further that Larkin is pessimistic to other people’s beliefs and ideas which cannot be proven. I believe that this poem could also link in with ‘Dockery and Son’ through the line “we think truest or most want to do”. This could suggest that we can only understand what we want and cannot understand that of others.

From the poem by Larkin called ‘Days’, I got the feeling that Larkin was again being quite pessimistic as he is suggesting that life is what you make of it. This is shown in “they wake us, time and time over”. This suggests that if you don’t make the most of each day, it will become repetitive and become an endless cycle. The quote “where can we live by days?” could suggest that people can get caught up looking at each day as a whole rather than taking each minute as it comes. I believe that by the use of short sentences leaves the poem with a quite simple feel when it focuses on more of a complex idea about the belief that people have in their own lives.

The poem ‘Nothing To Be Said’ is quite puzzling as it seems to suggest that as you get older your life slowly becomes increasingly lifeless. This can be seen in “Life is slowly dying”. This suggests that there is a negative aspect to this poem as every day your life is losing its importance. The quote “Or birth, advance on death equally slowly”. This suggests that our life is a continuous cycle which creates a similarity with everyone else as we all live a continuous cycle making decisions throughout our lives. This links in with ‘Reference Back’ and the idea that we are making conscious life choices all the time. I also found the quote “others it leaves nothing to be said” quite interesting as I believe it suggests the difference between those that ask questions about other people’s beliefs and those that simply accept the ideas within our society.

From the poem called ‘Water’, I got the impression that Larkin was mocking religions as he seems to believe that the only use you could get about going to church would be to “make use of the water” and “to dry, different clothes”. This suggests that Larkin is not a believer in any religion and does not understand those that can be. Although, it seems at first to be quite a religious poem, as you delve deeper you find that Larkin is being quite negative towards people’s beliefs by suggesting that instead of going to church to pray that they should make use of their help and the holy water.

The poem ‘As Bad as a Mile’ is about failure to do with the Garden of Eden and the fruit that Eve picked from the Tree of Knowledge. This is suggesting that ‘As Bad as Mile’ is in fact a poem about religion; however it is again not looking at in a positive way. Larkin is talking about failure linking it with the aspect of Christianity reflecting this. I believe that this poem suggests that everyone has failure inside of them, however you have to delve deeper inside someone to find this which reflects getting to the core of an apple.

The poem called ‘First Sight’ seems to be quite positive at a first glance but it is in fact not. It focuses on natural imagery and seems to create a new life feeling to the poem. It seems to suggest that you are unable to grasp the things that you most want to in life and that new life will struggle with this the most.

In conclusion, I feel that Larkin is mocking religion and can never understand how people can have such strong beliefs in facts that cannot be proven. This therefore shows that Larkin is not in any way religious. 

Self's the Man

Self's the man is about Larkin's comparison with Arnold's life dwelling on the fact that Arnold got married therefore implying that he has wasted his life. He therefore imposes quite negative thoughts about women throughout the whole poem.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the line "He married a woman to stop her getting away Now she's there all day". This can be seen as a reply to all those that have called him selfish. This phrase is also presented in quite a jolly way reminding the reader of a lymeric suggesting that we might not be able to believe all of what he is saying.
Larkin also suggests many different things about married life. This can be seen in the line "And if it was such a mistake, He still did it for his own sake". This suggests that when you get married you are doing it for yourself. Through this and other aspects of the poem you can see that Larkin is implying that married life is repetitive, busy, pressurized and stressful which Larkin has managed to avoid all of his life. This can also be seen  in stanza six as Larkin is suggesting that marriage is actually quite selfish and that the married man got what he wanted from his own life, just like the persona did. This can be supported with "So he and I are the same". This is suggesting that both men lived their lives how they wanted to so why should we pity him as the married man should have known what he could stand.
'Self's the Man' can be linked to 'Dockery and Son' through the persona/Larkin comparing his life to somebody else's and the life choices that affected them both along the way.

A Scene from Married Life

I believe that this poem is about relationships and shows the upset and hurt that couples go through when they have arguments.  I feel that this can be seen in "thinking of the squabble with my wife". Therefore, I believe the key themes in this poem are relationships, love and romance.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the last line; "and then...". This could suggest that the future is unknown to the couple on whether they'll be able to stay together through future arguments. However, it could also suggest that after "the armistice, each kiss, and then" that they could be back to arguing again. This could show a repetitive cycle that the couple have adopted after being together for a long time.
I believe that through this point that 'A Scene from Married Life' links in with Larkin's poem 'Talking in Bed' as both poems show a couple that have been together for a long time. Both poems always suggest that you don't have to be talking at a certain time to still love each other.
I also found the rhyme scheme in this poem quite significant as it is not regular however there is still some rhyme used in certain places. I believe that this irregular, unclear rhyme scheme could suggest the uneasiness and unsettled relationship that the couple are left in after an argument or disagreement.
Dannie Abse has also chosen to use some war references when describing their arguments which could suggest the conflict is as important to them as a war is to it's respective nations. An example of this is "Our own cold wars during the real Cold War were few and brief". However, Abse also portrays a sense of forgiveness and peace that the couple want after an argument by using the word "surrendering".
I also found the quote "resentful wedlock" quite interesting as it suggests that Abse may feel that in the heat of the moment that they shouldn't have got married as this would never have happened. However, with the previous quote "far dank confusion" could suggest that Abse is only resentful of marriage in circumstances like this.

The Malham Bird

I believe this poem is about Abse remembering the first days when he met his wife and the choices that they made early on which changed and shaped their life to how it is now. This can be seen within in the first three stanzas however by the last two stanzas it seems to me that Abse is showing an epiphany - similar to those that Larkin portrays - through the link to the present times and the religious aspects that he believes in.
One of the key themes that I believe can be seen in this poem is relationships and the intimacy that he has between himself and his wife. This can be seen in "Dear wife" and "(For Joan)" as it suggests that Abse must have a lot of respect and love for his wife to dedicate the whole poem to her and the relationship that they shared.
Another key theme that I feel can be seen in this poem is religion and beliefs as Abse quotes different Jewish beliefs throughout the poem. These can be seen in "the malham of Eden", "forbidden fruit" and "the vanished gardens of Paradise".This portrays a Jewish legend and the forbidden fruit signifies that you cannot taste the joys of the world. I believe that the religious aspects of this poem are significant as it shows that Abse is religious compared with Larkin who is not.
However, I believe that the "forbidden fruit"could also be a metaphor for life choices and how we make conscious life choices all the time. I believe that this therefore links to 'Dockery and Son' by Larkin as it suggests that we make conscious life choices and it also shows an epiphany at the end of the poem similarly to 'The Malham Bird'.
Another thing that I found interesting about this poem was the emphasis on birds throughout. This can be seen in "friendly gull", "black feathered bird" and "of all the birds". I believe that the use of birds could suggest the freedom that the couple first had when they were together but also links to the choices they had as well.
The rhyme scheme used within this poem is also not regular as the first and third stanza rhyme however the the second and fourth stanza feature half-rhymes. This could suggest that their love is regular as it is every other stanza that has half-rhymes suggesting a regular pattern however that their love at a young age was unclear due to the choices that they had yet to make.

Last Visit to 198 Cathedral Road

I believe that this poem is about the persona travelling back to his mother and fathers' house after they have passed away to sort things out before selling the house. One of the key themes of this poem is relationships which can be shown by the love he has for his mother and father. This links in with another Dannie Abse poem called 'A Winter Visit'.

One thing that I found interesting about this poem was the focus on concrete nouns rather than abstract nouns. This can be seen in "my father's armchair", "empty fruit bowl; the four legged table" and "the pattern that ran up the curtain". This suggests that the persona is remembering the objects that made his parent's home theirs and that now that they have gone this is the only thing he has to remember them by. Dannie Abse has also used personification when describing one of the objects. This can be seen in "the vase that yawned hideously". I believe that this also suggests that the persona is now placing his memories from his parents into the objects that belonged to them.

Another thing that I found interesting about the structure of this poem was that there is no rhyme scheme within the poem. This could suggest that the persona is now incomplete as he does not have the love from his mother and father any more. 

'Last Visit to 198 Cathedral Road' also links in with 'Home Is So Sad' as both Larkin and Abse capture the moment of going back to your old home after losing a loved one. However, whilst Abse focuses more on the concrete nouns that made his parents home their own, Larkin chooses to focus on the abstract nouns that show the love that has been removed from the house.

A Winter Visit by Dannie Abse

This poem by Dannie Abse shows a relationship between Dannie himself and his mother. I can see within the poem the affection that he has for his mother and the relationship that they share. 'A Winter Visit' is about him visiting his mother and taking her for a walk through the park in which she believes may be one of the last moments she shares with her son.
One of the things that I found interesting about this poem was the representation of peacocks throughout the poem. Peacocks are colourful, vibrant and bright which suggests that they are full of life. This compared with the representation of his mother such as "so aged and so frail" shows an antithesis with the peacock as there is not much life left in his mother which can be seen in "This winter I'm half dead, son". Another thing that I found interesting was the rhyme scheme that Dannie Abse chose to use throughout 'A Winter Visit'. The rhyme scheme is regular as he uses A, A; B, B; C, C; D, D; and E, E. This could suggest that he is trying to portray through the rhyme scheme that the relationship he shares with his mother is quite respected and loving. This can be supported with "And because it's true I want to cry".
One of the main themes in this poem is relationships. This can link in with Larkin's poems about relationships such as 'Home Is So Sad' and 'Reference Back'. 'Home Is So Sad' is about the emptiness that not only the persona feels but also their home after losing a loved one which can link to 'A Winter Visit' as it is his mother who he is scared to lose. 'Reference Back' is about the connection that Larkin and his mother share through a piece of music which can link to 'A Winter Visit' through the connection that Abse and his mother share.

Mr Bleaney

The poem 'Mr Bleaney' is about the persona exploring the room that Mr Bleaney used to own in order to rent it from him. During this he compares his life to Mr Bleaney's through the objects that Mr Bleaney had in his room.
Firstly, the rhyme scheme of the poem reflects the poem as it is quite a straight-forward ballad rhyme scheme which suggests that so was Mr Bleaney and the persona's life. Throughout the poem there are also descriptions that suggest the simplicity of Mr Bleaney's life and the lifestyle that he has come to acquire. "Flowered curtains, thin and frayed" suggests that the curtains are old, neglected and poor. The view from the window is of "building land" which suggests that it is ugly, desolate, cheap and not picturesque. The description of the facilities of the room are also quite basic which shows similarity to a prison cell, "Bed, upright chair, sixty-watt bulb, no hook". This room could also symbolize quite a basic person and a metaphor for his life. The persona also connects with Mr Bleaney through the lack of life that this room has to offer him. This can be seen through "stub my fags on the same saucer-souvenir". This is quite casual as there is no entertainment therefore leaving the persona to contemplate existence and life. "The jabbering set" however suggests a difference to the Mr Bleaney's life from the persona as Mr Bleaney had other sounds in his room whereas the persona has cut himself off from everything. In this poem it also suggests that the persona knows that he has nothing fulfilling in his life and this connects with Mr Bleaney as he they both plug "at the four aways". This gives them hope however this is only vague and doesn't give them much of a practical chance.
However, in the last two stanzas of the poem the persona seems to have a epiphany of reality as he tells "himself that this was home". This suggests that he is trying to convince himself to make the most of it as this is all he has to offer himself. The persona has got to put up with this as he has no choice. The word "dread" at the end of stanza 6 could imply different things such as that this is what the persona is thinking but as that he is dreading the way that his life is going to be. "That how we live measures our own nature" could be implying that this is Larkin's view as it sums up what he has been saying in the whole poem. "One hired box" is also quite interesting because the persona is literally summing up the room that he is renting but also that the next hired box he will be in will be a coffin.
I believe that as the persona does not know the inner life of Mr Bleaney he has no idea of how Mr Bleaney would have felt in this situation and due to this he trying to convince himself that his own life is better when in fact it's not. This therefore suggests that Larkin is judgemental, an expecting type of person, quite philosophical, a deep thinker and bleak. I believe that the whole poem is asking the question what is the point in living?

Dannie Abse

Dannie Abse is a welsh poet who was born in Cardiff on the 22nd of September, 1923. He originally studied medicine at the University of Wales College of Medicine and then went on to Westminister Hospital Medical School and King's College London. He is currently the president of the Welsh Academy of Letters and was recently awarded a CBE. The first book he published was called After Every Green Thing in 1948 to recently writing Speak, Old Parrot in 2013. In 2009, he brought out a volume of collected poetry.
         

Talking in Bed

The poem 'Talking in Bed' is about enduring love which has lasted a long time. It also suggests that you can be together yet feel alone at the same time. The main theme in this poem is love and the philosophical meaning behind love. One of the things that I found interesting about the language is the contrasting pairs that are used. This can be seen in "true and kind, or not untrue and not unkind". This suggests that you can not be both 100% true and 100% kind so it is best to hope for "not untrue and not unkind".It could also suggest that at the beginning of a relationship it is "true and kind" however deteriorates over time. Another contrast can be shown in "talking" and "silently" suggesting that the couple are not communicating however it is not awkward. A contrast can also be seen in "easiest" and "unrest". This suggest an uneasy feel to the couple. The structure of the poem suggests that at the beginning the couple have been together for decades however by the end it is more enduring than anything else.

Ambulances

Ambulances is about the way that people look on when an accident has occurred in which an ambulance is needed. It suggests how people are taken in by what is unfolding before them allowing them to reflect on their own lives. One of the key themes in this poem is shock and sorrow at the person in the ambulance but with a hint of reflection involved. One thing that I found interesting about the language used in 'Ambulances' is the repetition of 'and' in the third stanza, "so permanent, blank and true". This could suggest that it is happening again and again and there is nothing people can do to stop the inevitability that we are all going to die. Another interesting about the language is the half-rhyme that is used in the first and the last stanza. This suggests that in the case of the last stanza is that you predict the word to by 'die' rather than and not 'by' showing that it is less satisfying than a full rhyme. The language used with the words 'thread', 'blend' and 'loosen' are also interesting as it relates to the fabric of life. It suggests that life is unravelling and will happen to us all at some point. It can also suggest that with everyday that unravelling process gets closer. The structure used is also interesting as it is a regularly repeated in each stanza. This reflects a person's heartbeat and that life is inevitable. The poem 'Ambulances' contrasts with another poem written by Philip Larkin called 'The Whitsun Weddings'. This is due to the fact that 'The Whitsun Weddings' focuses on beginnings through to endings whereas 'Ambulances' focuses completely on endings. However, 'Ambulances' links to 'Dockery and Son' as it is centred around the same tone and that life carries on.

Dockery and Son

'Dockery and Son' is about the persona visiting his old university in Oxford and finds out that his old friend Dockery now has a son. The poem then goes on to explain how he compares his life to that of Dockery's and they way he has chosen to lead his life. One of the main themes within this poem is life choices which the persona emphasises on towards the end of the poem. This can be shown in "Those warp tight-shut, like doors" which suggests that humans do not have as much free will as we think that we do. One thing that interested me about the language used in this poem was the use of tracks as a metaphor for life choices. I also found the line "Suddenly they harden into all we've got" quite interesting as it suggests that we are not even conscious of the life choices that we are making . The line "they rear like sand-clouds, thick and close" interesting as it suggests life goes quickly and that the chances you take determine what is going to happen in your life. However, it could also suggest that an age comes in your life when you can't go back on your life choices. There are different rhyme schemes that are noticeable within the different stanzas.

Here

The poem 'Here' is predominately about the persona travelling on a train to the end of the track and then observing and thinking about what his life has become. One of the main themes in this poem is that of movement which can be linked to 'The Whitsun Weddings' as the journey of the train is again at the centre of the poem. Another key theme in this poem is loneliness which is centred upon in the third and fourth stanzas. One thing that interested me about the language was how the countryside was described compared with the man-made aspects of the poem. There is a more positive description of the countryside compared with a more negative description of the more urban aspects of the poem. This could suggest that the persona of the poem is that the environment has become ruined by the man-made aspects of the country and that this is limiting the beautiful and refreshing aspects of the countryside. This can be shown in "piled gold clouds" and "mortgaged high-built edges". I also found the description of loneliness within the poem quite interesting as they are viewing loneliness as an advantage. This could suggest that loneliness allows you to think and gives you the hope and potential which your normal lives do not. It also suggests that you are no longer trapped in your lives. This can be shown in "unfenced existence".

The Whitsun Weddings

The Whitsun Weddings is about the persona sitting on a train watching as the couples board the train ready to go and get married. It is through his vision of how the wedding parties are shown to the reader. One of the main themes of the poem shows quite an observant side with quite physical descriptions which changes to more abstract ideas towards the end. Another theme incorporated into this poem is religion which is shown with the weddings being on the Whit Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter. Their is a continued use of enjambment throughout the poem which can be shown in "watching us go, as if out on the end". This suggests that he Larkin is trying to show movement not just through the words but the structure that the poem is written in. This movement is constant which is reflected in the flow through the different stanzas. There is a slight rhyme scheme throughout the poem however there are some exceptions to this. The rhyme pattern is line 1 rhymes with line 3, line 2 rhymes with line 4 and line 7 rhymes with line 10. This can be seen in the first stanza "getting away...Saturday". However, there are exceptions to this pattern in stanzas 4, with line 2 and 4 not rhyming and in stanza 7, with lines 1 and 3 not rhyming which can be seen in "farcical...funeral". One of the things that I found interesting about the language used in this poem is the different meanings that can be interpreted from what Larkin has written. This can be shown in "becoming rain". This can suggest different meanings such as the feeling of new life as rain helps things grow but also the "rain" can suggest tears but also floods which cause ruin presenting a more gloomy aspect. This can also link to pathetic fallacy as at the start it was extremely hot, however by the end there is a rain shower suggesting something bad is going to happen.

First Impressions of The Whitsun Weddings Collections by Philip Larkin

The key themes that I have picked up on so far from Larkin's writing is a sense of intimacy from his poetry. I believe that this is shown through his descriptions of intimate times in people's lives such as weddings and funerals as this is what his poems mainly suggest. However, there is also a key theme of loneliness and death running through the poem suggesting that his poems are quite sombre and reflective. This shows quite a sorrowful tone to Larkin's writing.