Case History - Dannie Abse

From within the first stanza the audience is able to find out what the first character is like within the poem. From this stanza we learn that the character known as He is not welsh nor Jewish but is however anti-liberal. From the phrase, "interior breed" we also see that this man is racist and fascist and we find out that he is Pro Nazi. From within the first stanza we see that he has unacceptable racism and gives the audience the memory of the holocaust and of World War 2.
Within the second stanza we begin to see the second character formally known as "I" and learn that he is a Jewish, welsh doctor. He is however a liberal and is open-minded, tolerant and balanced. From within the second stanza we see the use of medical jargon and specialist vocab from the words such as, "palpated" and "stethoscope". We also see within this stanza the names of Nazi generals that were historical figures within World War 2.
As we continue on through the stanzas we begin to see that within the doctors surgery are the use of drugs that can also be placed as poisons from the word, "dispensary". Throughout the third stanza we see a fantasy occur of which describes to the audience of how easy it would be to get rid of the other character. From the words, "my brother" we see the sudden change that humanity has had within the doctor. No matter how much the doctor loaves this man he has made an oath to treat any one that needs help, whomever it may be. This is portrayed as a simile for the doctor's interigite has finally ran out.
Within the final few lines of the poem we are informed of two different meanings of what Abse is portraying. One is that from the doctor loosing feeling within his hand it is that he is unable to write the perscription for a while. His body has given him the excuse he needed to avoid his responsibility as a doctor but this is a temporary measure for him.
The other meaning to these lines is that he is physically punishing himself or being punished for treating this man and has not stood up to him. He could of challenged this mans views but did not and avoided his responsibilities.

St Valentine's Night - Dannie Abse

From within this poem the audience sees that the key theme throughout is desire. From within the first stanza we are able to see the reference of cupid being brought in my the Greek God "Eros". From the name of this God the audience sees that his name is similar towards the word erotic to show this desire through the poem. From this the audience can continue further by seeing that this desire is to mainly reproduce and create life. From the phrase, "one eye closed" we get a detail that appears human and we imagine cupid as to being this human who is aiming by closing his eye. We get the impression that there is a personal anecdote with an "I" speaker with the phrase, "St Valentine's" and continues further with the reader able to see a memory of youth coming into the poem with the persona saying, "For me the first time". Abse then uses personification and pathetic falacy with how the moon flirts to a cloud and within the last two lines we begin to get a range of words that portray a decription towards the readers. From the use of "Black Magic chocolates" we are able to see that these sweets are seductive, sexy and dark but are also able to idealise a romantic hero that is tall, dark and handsome. From this we see a symbolic exchange occur within the first stanza.
As we move on to the second stanza we see that this stanza is filled with desire and emotion. This stanza is genuine and shows us a great deal of description that portrays not only the enjoyment of eating the chocolates but also the other meaning of the stanza which is the couple having sex with each other.
From within the final stanza we then piece together that in life you must have desire, for without desire you have no life. An ally is portrayed in this to suggest a friend but there is also another Greek God known as "Thanatos" who is the demon of death. He is a contrast between Eros for humans have the drive to not only live but to also die. From adding this God into this personifies death and shows us this notion of being driven to death. This poem is therefore suggesting to us that to keep fully alive you must have love, romance and desire. From this poem we see that the couple are mutual towards each other and this is shown through a simile of which portrays to us that they have had sex. Neither one is superior to the other, they are both equal for each gender is both eager and willing.
The difference between Larkin and Abse within this poem is that Abse is more personal and vibrant within this poem and also is more personal at describing the feeling of being in love whilst Larkin presents himself to be more critisising and judgemental.

Leaving Cardiff - Dannie Abse

Within the first stanza the audience is able to see a wide range of language that Abse has used throughout the poem. We firstly see the use of alliteration from the phrase, "dock's derelictions" and get the appearance of it being an empty place and is empty of him once the persona has left. The persona provides the reader a sense of him telling an autobiography to us with the words "I wait". From within this first stanza we clearly see that Abse has used concrete description to provide the audience with a setting to form the poem.
Within the second stanza Abse provides us with a metaphor from the first line where the persona is looking out into the open. This metaphor implies to us that perhaps he is looking out to the horizon or the horizon of life. From the third line we then see an intense description of the place being brought up and shows us that the structure is negative within this stanza.
In the third we can see that this whole stanza is filled with emotional impact that Larkin lacks within his poems. Throughout this stanza we are provided with emotional and powerful words that suggest to us the significance of life and change and making decisions. Sadness is shown also and also portrays the sense of emptiness for he is leaving through the line, "my eyes, like space, fill". It is all dramatic and upsetting unlike the first two stanzas.
Within the forth we see that the persona is unable to live two lives with the final line in this stanza. We see a link occur to Larkin for it is a depressing aspect. When he moves he knows that he will be different and shows this epiphany that holds a philosophical meaning towards it. Poems that are similar to this would be Dockery and Son for the choices he has to make as well as Mr Bleaney.
Within the final stanza we are informed of the rhyming that is used within this poem. Within this poem it represents the change of leaving and moving on and is also represented with symbolism throughout the poem. Throughout the final lines we see that it is all about moving on in life and movement and we get the image of the personas life being like boats that come into harbour to unload their cargo before moving on to the next.

Postcard to his Wife - Dannie Abse

On the Coast Road - Dannie Abse

Within the first stanza the audience is able to see that there is a great deal of personification within the weather of On the Coast Road. From this we are able to see this from the words "grumpy" and "bossy" and we get the interpretation of an old man that would be either a school teacher or an older sibling. This then begins to bring in memories of childhood and youth towards the persona. This provides us with a symbol of age with stating, "too short for life" and presents to us a cold winters afternoon. This links into Larkins poem of Talking in Bed where the weather is there to mirror the atmostphere and gives the sense of a pathetic falacy occuring. With the musical metaphor of, "like a conductor" we also get the link towards larkins poems of Broadcast and Sydney Bechet for they are both poems that have the theme of music in them. We then finally see the word "ghosts" portray a sense of past reoccuring and has the haunting memories creep back in once more.
Within the second stanza we see from the phrase, "bullied off course" that it is a memory from childhood of having to be bullied and gives us a semantic field of childhood. From the word "squeals" we see that the sound effect portrays this onamatopoeia and informs us that there is alliteration also with the use of the "S" sound coming through occasionally which is also shown through the phrase, "sheep scrum". We then finally see within this stanza the phrase, "in the wrong weather" which informs the readers that the persona should not be out and is in the wrong weather to be walking. There is a positive towards this however for the walk is enabled him to go out and clear his mind and time to reflect on matters. There is then the notion of isolation and loneliness occuring once more and a poem that links towards this by Larkin is Here.
From the third and forth stanza we see that there is a great deal of dramatic exaggeration occuring in this from phrases such as, "Tons of air!" and "thrashes". We also see that within the third stanza that there is a hyperbole and gives the sense of a childlike perception being given off. From the repitition of "And nobody on" we see that he emphasises his loneliness and states that he is truly alone in life, reflecting back to the poem Here, by Larkin. We then see the use of imagery being used that shows to us a religious side within the poem. From, "on that rock's pulpit" we are told of this christian imagery to be a link to the disciples were fishermen and that the persona's father was his inspiration, protector and God-like figure towards him. We also see the use of a metaphor which portrays a journey of life from the phrase, "this road leads to the Past". From the last line within this stanza, we are told the the wind is implied but it also has another meaning to it, which is that it holds a painful memory. There is the feeling of loss now that he has lost his parent through time which links to the poem Home Is So Sad. Throughout stanza five we are continuously remembered of all this hints of the persona trying to piece together memories and thinking whether they are truly things he can remember from that time back.
Within the two final stanzas we are shown the irony from the graffiti the persona had placed on the wall of a barn when he was younger. From the words he wrote we see this desire to grow up faster and holds this irony for we can see that when you are younger you wish for it to come quickly but when you have reached that age you wish for the clocks to change back. There is the link between Larkins poems of Here, The Whitsun Weddings, Dockery and Son and also Self's the Man. From all these poems we also get the theme of wanting to make decisions and to having to be stuck on the cross roads of life but also with the wanting to escape and achieve something far greater.
Within the final stanza we see "a tin can" reflects on the personas life. He is now empty and unused. His life is ended whilst before when he was younger, he was needed and full and useful to others. Age has taken this away from him and represents a metaphor of how he feels. The last line shows to us readers the contrast of age and youth and how quickly things are able to go past us. The difference between Abse and Larkin that I have discovered from their poems so far is that Larkin observes and critisises whilst Abse is able to allow us to feel more connected and give us more emotions within his pieces. 

Mr Bleaney - Larkin

From the beginning of this poem we are given the description of a room that the persona is renting that was once Mr Bleaney's. We are given the impression that the room is cheap and ugly due to this description and that Mr Bleaney had a repetitive life around him. As we continue through this poem we see that this ugly setting that Larkin has provided the audience with is a symbolisism of Mr Bleaneys' life. The persona appears to the audience as being an incomoetent character that is much worse than before due to the quote, "My bit of garden properly in hand". The line after this then portrays to us that this is a basic and simple room but is much similar to a prison cell showing isolation and restriction to occur.
The third stanza shows us a dull tone from the persona with the phrase, "I'll take it" and we see that the room is a metaphor of Mr Bleaney's life and asparations. From the word "fags" we get the impression of there is nothing in his life and the audience is left to believe the thought of thinking that that is all that is in Mr Bleaney's life. Within this stanza however there is portrayed a hint of something positive but has not been cherished and continues to go back towards the negative views.
As we continue through we see that he cut himself away from society with removing the radio and gives the reader a sense of being unwelcomed within this home he has. There is a baliad rhythm which represents a simplistic repetitive lifestyle of Larkin that the audience is able to pick up as the poem continues.
With the word "four aways" we are implied of there being pathetic hope even though there is a small amount or a vague amount of hope being given off within this setting. From the word "Frinton" we are informed of it being a place of Essex and that it is a bossy, uptight holiday destination that the persona is talking about. We then get the final line in this stanza saying, "And Christmas at his sister's house in Stoke" appears to the readers that he has no choice in the matter.
From the sixth stanza we get the impression that we are the same as Mr Bleaney with the line, "without shaking off the dread" and that he makes the best of this because for him, that is his home and is of great importance to him. Finally within the last stanza we see that within this whole part that we are unaware of what Mr Bleaney felt or thought and we do not know his inner feelings either. From this there is also an epiphany of which states to us that the reality of this poem shows us that the persona is no better than Mr Bleaney. They are both the same.

Reference Back - Larkin

From within the beginning the audience begins to see that the poem starts off with a mother and son listening to music together in their home. From this we instantly get the impression of this mother and son bond and music holds them together. From the first line the audience gets the sens that the song they are listening to is actually mournful and that the mother is able to remember this for she is just listening to the music. From this we see that this reminds her on the thing she loves most and she remembers this every time she hears this song played. As we continue through the first stanza we see that there is repetition of the word "unsatisfactory" and informs us that the son is needing to move away from his mother and is torn between the choice of staying and moving out. This word also reflects a negative image of the house towards the reader also.
From within the second stanza we see from the line "Our of Chicago air into" informs us of the vivid memories that are brought back from being in Chicago for Larkin. We are also given the repetition of "unsatisfactory" once more but this time having a different meaning to it. This time in this stanza it is implying to us readers that for the persona it has brought back memories of how much his mother has aged and that in reality his mother is getting old and he does not like this.
As the audience moves onto the final stanza we then see from the first three lines in this stanza a link towards one of Larkins poems. The poem Dockery and Son links into this for it shows the notion of choices and not thinking of what to do next in life. It gives us the feeling that within this poem we are not able to look back on ourselves. Within the line, "They link us to our losses" we are able to think of the people we have lost and as we continue through this poem to the end we see that we are told that music is able to bring us back into these memories that have been forgotten about within the past. From the last line we are able to see that the point being made is that if we made different life choices then everything would be the same. This is untrue and is clearly stated within the final line. The difference is that the record/music within this poem will always stay the same and from this we see a philosophical shift as it reaches the end.
Other poems that link to Reference Back would be Larkins' Broadcast poem for the experience music provides us even when apart and also the poem Talking in Bed for experience also but with the added theme of isolation. Reference Back has the key theme of isolation, time and bonds.

Home Is So Sad - Larkin

Before even looking within the poem we see some key points that are linked within the title itself. The word "Home" is portrayed to being a person, a family and also the memories that this home has had within them. The home is personified and from the persona we see that it is the attitudes to his own past.
As we look within this poems first stanza we begin to see that there is a desire to return back with the phrase, "As if to win them back". We see that the story within this poem is of a lonely house and we get the thought of perhaps the owner is no longer living there for they might of moved away or died. We see that there is a desire for the owner to come back from the second line as it waits anxiously for their return. If they wait long enough perhaps they shall come back. The audience is left feeling bewildered and in wonder of what will occur next. Throughout this first stanza we can see that all words are hinting to the audience a negative and sad thought leaving us to feel grief.
Within the second and final stanza of this poem this home did not meet the expectations of the owner and has been left in grief. Larkin then provides us with this description which invites the reader in and allows us to paint a visionary image of what the house looks like. Throughout his descriptive words in this stanza we begin to piece together that this house was like a mothers home and it has now been made into a shell for no humanity is living within it. It has enclosed itself within for no one is living inside it anymore. It starts off with being hopeful and having expectations but ends with dissapointment. This informs to us readers that we are in control for we are able to change the home, it does not change us. We are always in control.
From this poem created by Larkin we are able to see that there are many links to other poems also. There is the link between the poems Love Songs in Age, Mr Bleaney and Dockery and Son for they all have the similar themes of love and loss but also the changes that occur through time.

For Sydney Bechet - Larkin

From within this poem we see a monosyliabic rhyme from the words "shakes" and "wakes" implying that it is simple towards the audience. In the second stanza we see a lot of positve thoughts occur that imply to the readers of freedom and exubrance coming back with the sentence, "Of balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles, Everyone making love and going shares". From this we also see dancing coming into it and is informed to us readers that within this time that a quadrilles was a dance that rich white people would perform. Within this life, everyone is rich.
Within the third and forth stanza we see that everyone loves the music that is coming from this jazz player and all get eager and excited when listening to his music. From the words "Storyvilles" and "Sporting-house girls" we are informed of the red light district within New Orleans and stating the fact of prostitutes. From the similie, "like circus tigers" we see that the wildness is contained and that these women and restricted and limited all due to the fact that they are prostitutes. As we move on into the forth stanza we clearly see that these women are prized above the rubies and jewels due to the excitement that is occuring within the room. We are also informed of the people within the band and wannabees that are of little interest throughout this stanza, the description is mainly stated of the prostitutes.
From within the final stanzas the audience then sees that from listening to Sydney Bechets music that he is in love with his work but also the fact that the persona is recieving some orgasmic pleasure from listening to this music. This is stated within the line, "On me your voice falls as they say love should". This is his enjoyment and it is all positive for the persona and is as though the music communicates with him like a language that has no words. As we finish the final stanza we see that there is a positive vibe towards the poem and that the rhyme scheme is representing the flow of music through the enjambment.
From this poem of Larkins we are easily able to see that this links into the poems of Love Songs in Age and Broadcast due to the fact that they are music poems but there is also the sense of love being portrayed within this also which links to several other poems created by Larkin.

Broadcast - Larkin

Throughout the entire poem we are able to see that there are many words to inform the readers that there is noise occuring within this piece. From within the first stanza we see a wide selection such as "whispering" and "coughing" to later on within the first stanza of being "sudden scuttle" and "snivelling". From these words we begin to piece out that this is the performance of an orchastra playing over the radio. From these words we see alliteration being used which is onomatapeic and shows the harshness of the words with the "S" sound. As violins begin to play we get the word "snivelling" which informs us readers that it is mournful and sad towards the audience that are listening. From this we also see Larkin use another key language skill for snivelling is a personification and informs the readers of a high pitch note occuring from the violins.
Within the second stanza we begin to see a sudden change within the orchastra as metaphors are used to inform us of the music being played. The words "Cascades" and "monumental slithering" gives us the sense of waterfalls and a beat/rhythm within the piece. This suggests to us of the overwhelming sounds that are occuring within this hall and suddenly drops into a quiet passage, seen with the phrase, "Here it goes quickly dark".
We also get the sense of a particular figure within this stanza with the lines exclaiming, "One of your gloves unnoticed on the floor Behind those new, slightly-outmoded shoes." This implies to the reader that the persona is imagining this women he knows so well to be there. He knows her and within these lines we see a private joke emerge showing us that they are intimate and loving towards each other. From this stanza we see that this couple, although apart, are able to share the experience together and that there is something yearning within the personas voice as he talks through this poem. From the final stanza we get the end of the music with the use of a pathetic falacy from the words "rabid storms". The sounds have become louder, harsher and more angrier to the audience before dropping off and the applause rises mightily as the piece ends.
From this we see that this is another example of Larkins poems that indicates the themes of love and loss as well as music. This poem links into Wild Oats as well as Love Songs in Age with being musical and also about love.

Love Songs in Age - Larkin

From within the first stanza of Larkins poem, "Love Songs in Age" the audience instantly picks up that one of the themes in this poem is about love. Throughout the first stanza we see the story unfold of a women that had kept these music sheets she had when she was younger. She had forgotten about them and is shown with the word, "bleached". From this we get the interpretation of something loved being neglected for a long time and states that this sheet of music has suffered this neglet constantly through the days. As we continue through the stanza we see that there are happy and important memories being brought up throughout the poem. We see this due to the line, "And coloured, by her daughter" which stats to us how important they were to her then and how important it is that she has now been reunited with these music sheets. They hold happy memories of the past about family life and links to having loyal friends as she reminiscenes the scene.
As we go on to the second stanza we see that from looking at these music sheets begins to bring further memories back from the past. The first line within the second stanza implies to us readers of discovering these sheets has enabled her to remember the chords to play this well loved tune and shows also that this is controlled by touch. The phrase, "submissive chord" suggests to the reader that the piece has not changed over time whilst the womens age has. It also informs the audience that when playing music it becomes alive to people and brings out the human characteristics that it has from various different styles. As we continue through this stanza we see that she remembers the memories of youth and hope from the phrase, "being young" and the powerful connection she had with the song. It has seemed to given this women a new sense of life as she has discovered this music once more.
Through the third and final stanza we then see that she cannot control the emotions that comes with this piece nor the fact that she is unable to control time. She is dazzled by this music she has found and we see that with the word "brilliance" we are given the impression that love doesnt clarify but diverts us. Within the final stanza we begin to see that her youth was full of life and with little doubts and she had full confidence with the future she had coming her way. With continuing with the poem we then see that there is a false pretence with the phrase, "promising to solve, and satisfy" informing us that everything will be fine but it doesnt deliver all its promises. Then there is a sudden change within the words as we see that the persona is moved to tears for the loss of her husband and we see that music is unable to solve the problems of life and having a gloomy look on love will not solve the problems you face.
From this poem we see that Larkin has mainly portrayed the themes of music, love and loss which link into serveral other of his poems such as, Talking in Bed and also Wild Oats.

Exploring Dannie Abse

From exploring the poet Dannie Abse I have discovered many key points that I was unaware of. One was that Abse was of a Jewish family where many of his poems were placed on the traditions they believed in. Another would be that he studied medicine at different universities and schools instead of poetry. Due to his studies within the field of medicine Abse worked in a specialist in a chest clinic for more than thirty years. But he was famous for his poetry of which he had won many awards for over the years. Another key point I discovered about Dannie Abse was he also worked for a London newspaper known as the Hampstead and Highgate Express where he wrote columns that were published into book form.
Althrough Dannie Abse was best known for his poetry we see that his first interest of work was within the line of medicine but change towards journalism through the years.
In 2005 Abse lost his wife within a car accident which left him with only a broken rib. This was where many of his key themes began to come in after the death of his wife. "Running Late" was a collection he wrote in 2006 and "The Presence" which was a memoir to a year after his wifes passing in 2007. This book had won the wales book of the year award the next year and was later dramatised on BBC Radio 4.
The key themes we see come out through the collection, "Speak, Old Parrot" was a mix from love, loss, medicine, nature of creativity, jewish folk traditions and passing of time. From this we see that there are some links between Abse and Larkin for they both speak of time as well as the creation that we live in. They are both looking at the bigger picture when the reader looks into their words in further depth.
Abse published more then twenty volumes of poetry and around two plays and novels throughout his life.