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.