A Wall - Dannie Abse

From looking at this short poem we are able to instantly see that this poem would link to Here by Larkin due to the description of a place. From within the first stanza it portrays how useless and meaningless this wall is and is shown with the line, "it begins for no reason, ends no place". there is no purpose for this wall and the original significance of this wall is no longer there for it has been lost with everything else over time. This is also a link to the poems An Arundel Tomb by Larkin and also At Caerleon by Abse. Although the audience is unsure of what its origianl purpose was, we are able to see that within the society is it placed into now that it is out of place and context from everything else surrounding it.
 From the second stanza we are able to see that the use of the line "Don't say this wall is useless" can inform us of a purpose found for the wall. Abse is portraying to the readers that everything has a purpose no matter what it is or how old it is. Larkin however does not state this within his poems, he is far more negative to the world and what occurs within it whilst Abse seems to be always looking for a positive aspect on whatever it is.
As we see this wall is really a home for nature and can be seen due to the words "golden lichens" and "butterflies". There is a habitat occuring within this wall meaning a sense of life instead of refering to death in the stanza before. The wall portrayed the notion of death due to how it could of been the remains of history and therefore held some status of death within it. Abse however has changed this notion within the second stanza and provided us the evidence to see that it is really holding life. This wall is not useless and we see that the use of the word "golden" is placed as shinning and royal. From this we can imagine this habitat to be a great deal of importance to the creatures that live within it and they feel like this is their haven. We also see that it is used by larger animals and not just small insects with how "huddling sheep" use this wall as shelter. This is refered to as now and we see that this wall is a part of the landscape and the scene has absorbed the wall into the picture. As we have already seen the poems that link to A Wall would be An Arundel Tomb, Here and First Sights. Here would link to this poem due to the description of a place and An Arundel Tomb would due to the true purpose being lost and the remains of it left the audience to wonder. Finally First sights would link into this poem due to how it goes on about life and the poet thinking with a philosophical ending that sees a point to nature.  

A Heritage - Dannie Abse

From looking at this poem we are able to see that their is a great deal of reference to death and loss. From the use of the words "fossils", "funerals" and "skelertons" we are able to imagine a negative and unnatural setting from Abse' description. From reading the first few stanza i got the impression that Abse was portraying a negative way of a funeral with "The bawling pit-hooter" and "this black-robed god". From these it appears as though he is talking of the man that has dug the grave and the reverend waiting for the service. He is portrayed as being the "god" within the grounds and therefore rules all the lost dead souls that are within the grounds. We also question whether this is a historical poem with how Abse talks of horses and human skulls within the ground refering us to a battle that has occured. This would link into the poem MCMXIV with the use of the war and the memory of it.
As we continue through this poem we see the use of scenery of the mountain that gives us the impression of being alone or lost from the remains of others. Abse uses the words "Above, on the brutalised, unstitched side of a Welsh mountain" we see that pain has been conflicted and has not been hidden from other peoples eyes. We could also refer to there being a battle upon the mountain and the bodies have been left there in their memory.
As we move through the poem we also see that Abse is talking about fire and coal-mines within the final stanzas. From these we see that Abse could be telling the audience that instead of a battle occuring here, it could of been an accident that occured within a mine resulting in many lives lost. This poem is portrayed as being very  negative due to the final two stanzas with which we learn that an accident had taken place and they are now taken up to heaven with the use of the line, "the re-entry of the exiled god into his shadowless kingdom". This line refers to the audience as perhaps death being personified as a person and has come within this dark time when this accident has occured, taking many lives to his own kingdom which is heaven or hell.
We also see the reference to death with "blood-stained black roses" and therefore see that darkness has captured the lives of people and they are unable to escape whilst these two people, (could be two death gods) watch over in fasination. They is also the reference that they are not human due to how he drinks acid and with them watching over this wasteland.

I really struggled with this poem and do not think my ideas of what Abse is saying is right. Please help!

In The Welsh National Museum - Dannie Abse

From reading this poem we are able to see that the persona is talking about a portrait his friend Josef Herman had painted of him. We can see that Josef has a way with paint due to how he portrays the use of colour within the first stanza. This is portrayed as being negative due to the line, "Autumn is your season" and therefore gives us the notion that nature is dying. This could mean that he has placed Abse within a different light when painting him and the real Abse is not being shown within this portrait no matter how much effort Josef has placed within this work.
As we continue through this poem we see that Abse informs Josef that the painting is not like him with the line, "Josef, this other is not me". He sees that this is not what he is like or brings him the worry of people seeing him like this. This then makes him feel like he is portrayed as being a negative person due to this portrait and makes him feel like he needs to change.
As we go to the next stanza we see that Abse is talking about this other person who he sees within this portrait is not him and therefore his passport would have be forged. He has a fake identity for he is not the real Abse. We also get the negative impression within Poland with the lines, "his exile inevitable, his wound undescribable" and informs the audience to imagine the worse with punishments and tortures that have occured. He then goes on to talking about his clothing not be worn down or turned ragged and therefore is able to make the link between reality and the fiction of this image. Within reality we know that once clothing becomes worn down we then buy new clothing. This is represented with how the painting never changes whilst in reality we do making the portrait also to look nothing like Abse for he can always change but the picture cant.
From the next stanza, we see that it is almost like we are able to link to what the viewer of this picture is feeling with the line "that look of loss". They are confused about this image and are unsure if this image is portraying the truth or is lying to them. It could be both or just one of these references.
We also see the poet, Dylan Thomas is brought up in this poem and is placed as being terrified of the image that is shown of Abse. This could also link to how Josef is wrong about his view on Abse for Dylan has a "pettrified" expression upon his face.
We then also see that this image is portraying a negative approach to the Welsh community for they speak of religion and facing the devil. Abse has been placed as a worker of the devil and is portrayed to his people as being an outsider. He then ends the poem with questioning Josef about his work and the magic he has placed upon it. It is almost as though Josef has twisted people's views on him all due to a simple portrait and he questions what has really happened.
Poems that are by Larkin that could link to Abse would be Self's the Man and MCMXIV. The reason these poems are able to link to Abse is how he has the reference of memory with war and also the notion that he is making a self assessment all due to a painting. It could also link to any of Larkin's poem of Faith Healing with how it relates to religion and how God is able to help. In Abse we see that no God will help Abse at this time and he is within the view of the devil.

Down the M4 - Dannie Abse

From looking within the first stanza we see that the persona is afraid of what is to occur of his mother and is seen with the line, "this time afraid". Each time he has visited his mother there has been no fear in seeing her but throughout this stanza we see that she has aged greatly and this causes him some concern. We also the reference of death due to the word "hole" which could refer to being buried and therefore suggests to the audience that with many other members and friends of the family dying, he is scared that his mother is next. We also see her time is limited with the line, "The beautiful face of my mother is in its ninth decade" and also how much she means to the persona with refering her to being beautiful. She is comforting and kind like any other mother is to their child and he is scared of not being able to see that anymore due to her coming close to the stage of death.
When we move into the second stanza we see that he has been told the same stories repeatedly through his visits and we see that with hearing these stories for so long, we see the reference of him aging also with the line, "till I feel my hair turning grey". We also get the link of the mother talking about clocks which could link into how her life is slowly ending and her time that she has left. Although the persona finds it to be dull the audience is able to see that he feels like his time is fading with how his hair is turning old. It almost gives a negative impression of the persona for he is not listening to his mothers advise on spending time wisely and finds this a waste of time with how he sits there answering the same answer each time.
We also get a negative view with the use of the word "perishable" which refers to the audience as things decaying. He then makes the similie of it being like a rugby amateur that collects sovereigns and therefore suggests that to this is a pointless waste of time.
In stanza three we see that he talks of a river within the south of Wales and refers to other family members. We see that he talks of the grandmother Annabella and speaks of her being a great importance with influencing people as she is represented as being "genuine". We also are able to state that this is also another person that is no longer with us and has now died therefore stating the fact that time has gone too quickly.
Finally within the final stanza we see the notion of time changing due to how "bridges that leap over me, then shrink in my side mirror". We see that once something has happened you must continue through life and is represented with the metaphor on the bridges. We also see that his mother is no longer alive due to him whistling a tune that reminds him of her. This links into the poem of Love Songs in Age due to how a small item can remind them of a loved person which is what he is doing. The ending words of "It wont keep" inform the reader that the song will be forgotten as will his mother and they will not remain forever. He is recalling his true feelings of his mother within the song and she is all that is on his mind when making his journey to South Wales.
Other poems that could link to this would be The Whitsun Weddings, Love Songs in Age and also Send No Money. These poems can link into Abse with the reference of memory, loss of time or loved ones and also a journey.

Cousin Sydney - Dannie Abse

From looking at the first stanza of Cousin Sydney we see that Sydney appeared more like an adult than a child. We see this due to the quote, "size 12 shoes - at fifteen the tallest boy in his class" and could also show you that this gave him the notion of wanting to grow up a lot quicker than the others in his class. This can also be supported with how the persona's mother says, "Dull as a bat" and also suggest to us that although he wanted to be grown up he was very child-like with being destructive and wasnt the brightest at his age.
As we move onto the second stanza we see that the persona's father also has a negative view upon cousin Sydney with repeting what his mother said. From within this stanza we begin to see the story unfold as we learn that Sydney lied about his age to go to war and therefore we see that he wanted to explore the world and have an adventure and believed the army was the way to get it. We see this due to the line, "hero Sydney lied about his age, to claim rough khaki, silly ass". From this we also see that the family had a great affect on his going to war and disapproved of it with calling him a "silly ass". He is still being childlike and not seeing the mistake he has made and is shown with how the clothing of the uniform is represented to the audience.
As we continue through the stanza and into the next we see that cousin Sydney has died within battle. Throughout the remains of stanza we see that the family do not believe it and they have the use of religion in hope of being reunited with him. We see that Sydney's father takes it badly with hope that his son will return with "never bolted the front door" and continues through this stanza portraying this mans only hope and dream of his son returning.
We then see in stanza four that the recalling of the swing has an appearance of foreshadowing cousin Sydney's death. Before when he was alive we see that the swing was usable and an enjoyment but now it is broken and no longer used. This portrays Sydneys death for it has been left there in his memory and shows us that he is no longer with us. We also get the similie of the persona's aunt crying like a raw onion and we also see the reference of history as his uncle shouts, "Bloody Germans". From this we learn that his son had died in the second World War and his anger was placed upon the Germans due to how they had taken his son so easily from him. We also see the reference of history with rememberance day and therefore see that the family suffered with his loss for thirty years.
As we move onto the final stanza we learn that the aunt and uncle of the persona went missing. This could mean that they left their home for they finally believed their son is dead. They have finally believed that he is no longer with them and could suggest that they feel there is no need for them to stay their waiting for them. The reference of them disappearing could also suggest that they have died too and are now finally with their long lost son that they have been waiting for. We also see that another person has moved into the house and therefore the memory of cousin Sydney is no longer their. He is only a memory within the army and the family that remain there but to the people within the house now, have no idea of him and is shown with the quote, "strangers have bolted their door and cut the string and no-one at all (the dark so hall)"
Poems made by Larkin that would link well to this poem would be MCMXIV, Faith Healing and Love Songs in Age. These poems would link to Abse due to how they relate to loss, memory, history and religion.
Poems that link from Abse would be The Death of Aunt Alice, Musical Moments 2 and Two Photographs.

Quests - Dannie Abse

From this poem we can see that Abse is stating to the audience the reference to religion and beliefs. From within the first part of this short poem we see the notion of wild life and nature growing with the use of the words "umbels" and "flower". We see that the person is implying a way of which to be able to get to "the other world" which could be the reference to heaven. From this we then can see that some would take drastics with poisen that is from this nature that appears postive and delicate towards the audience.
As we move onto the second short stanza we see the notion of people doing various different things to make it to the other world. From the use of the word "messiah" we see that the persona is informing us of people asking for their promised deliverer to be sent to them which gives us the reference to Jewish beliefs. We also see that perhaps people were foolish towards Gods help with the use of the line, But God had human faces and were flawed". From this we get the impression that God had love towards human beings but when being placed upon this earth his weakness towards them led to negative events or situations.
As we move on to stanza three we then see that there is the reference to Greek Gods as well with the names of "Apion" and "Homer". This could also suggests another religion or beliefs that either the persona or another group of people that Abse is talking about within the poem.
As we move on to stanza four we see that reality is brought back in and the persona is refering to another part of Greek mythology with a known lustful drinking God riding on the back of a sea-horse. From looking at this stanza we not only get the notion that he is talking about beliefs but also how silent it is within the museum. As we contine through the fifth stanza we see that their is also this longing silence as we change from Cardiff to Ogmore which is placed as being powerful and controlling for it is able to be heard over the roaring waves of the sea. There is also the reference to an early sea god named Proteus and with how he will not be heard to sulk. There is also the use of imagery to portray a calm night time sky.
Within the final stanza we then see that the persona's own beliefs begin to come into it with how he is unaware of the answer. "Secular" might refer to the meaning of Secularism which is the rejecting of religion. We see that Abse might be implying that he is not able to hear all this music due to not believing in there religions. He has his own beliefs and remains to keep to that and doe not wish to expand. There is also the reference that he does not want to be stuck within the same place, he wants to be adventurous and explore suggesting the meaning of the title to be "Quests".
Poems that would link to this would be Days, Nothing to be Said and Water by Larkin all due to how they express their own view on faith and belief.

A Sea Shell for Vernon Watkins - Dannie Abse

From this poem we are able to see that it is telling us of another poet that stood on stage to perform his work. From within the first stanza we get the interpretation that this is the rememberance of another poet due to how he talks of him being "unreal" to the audience. We have the use of imagery once more with the description of the cliffs and after that we see the notion of him talking of other poets that have also passed away. We also see the interpretation of life being shown to the audience with the use of shadows being portrayed in the imagery. This thought of death occurs through the remains of the stanza with the line, "I lifted a sea-shell from your shadow when you big-talked how the dead resume the silence of God". From this we get the thought that when we die we still get the silence of God and nothing changes. All questions are left unanswered and we are still waiting. We also get the impression that Watkins is dead due to how Abse picks a sea-shell from his shadow. Now although a shadow is placed by any object stating that it could be alive, we also see that Watkins has become dormant and Abse has now taken hold of life, personified by the sea-shell.
As we move onto the second stanza we see the sudden change of the countryside imagery in Pennard with how two shadows have become one, stating the notion of death occuring. We also see the notion of death within the line, "listening to another sea-shell I found, startled, its phantom sea utterly silent". From this we that death is occuring once more with the use of the word "phantom" which implys to us as being unreal and not from this world. From listening to this sea-shell we see that this could link in with only one shadow remaining on the cliff side. One shadow is no longer with us and the sea has turned ghostly and silent due to this.
Whilst we continue through the stanza we see that Abse talks of how unnatural it is to not hear the sound of the rolling sea and places it as being a "void" and a "interuption of sound" that should be there. We see that Abse himself is also making the link between the silence within this shell to the poet with the final line of this stanza saying, "but the stopped breath of a poet who once sang loud?". From this we also are able to imply that this poet was loud and noisy whilst on stage and no that he is no longer alive, it is silent and is placed as being unpleasant due to the change.
Within the final stanza we see that the persona is talking about the reality of death. From within this stanza we see that when one great poet dies, another is put in its place and we see the notion that we are not remembered after time with the use of the line, "the young asking, 'who?'". We are also able to make the link to another one of Abse' poems called Two Photographs with how he states that when we die and when all our loved ones die, it appears as though we have never lived at all. This links into it well due to the phrase used above from the poem.
Within the final part of this stanza we see that Abse is portraying the sense that all beaches should be filled with these shells that imply to us the notion of more people dying over time, but also with how the sea is able to capture it all. The use of the word, "immortal" states to us readers that the sea is powerful and is an observer of all thoughs that have died. We also see that the shells are empty, have no importance or value and is shown with the line, "This shell is useless" and therefore get the impression that that is what we will be when we die. From the final line we see that loved ones cry due to their losses but yet Abse does not cry for Watkins which makes the persona question why he is not doing so. Perhaps he is refering to his statement before on how many famous poets have died before and more are to follow, suggesting that it is Abse who is able to become famous and Watkins to be forgotten.
There is the link to a Larkin poem named For Sydney Bechet for it has the similarity of being an elergy. This is a reflection on someone just like the poem of Sydney Bechet and from this we see that this is in memory of the dead. 

Elergy for Dylan Thomas - Dannie Abse

This poem has the link towards Larkin of being an Elergy which suggests to the audience the link to For Sydney Bechet once more.
From within the first stanza we get the notion that death has occured of the use of something is no longer available due to the words "smoke-laden town". From this we get the impression that what was once there is no longer due to it being filled with "smoke".
From the next stanza we begin to see that Dylan Thomas is truly dead and the impression that it was his happiness to die. We get the sense that he might of been a drunk due to the words "the whisky-meadows" and that this could of been the result of his death. Another Larkin that would link to this would be Self's the Man for we see that the man has no freedom due to the choice he made of being married and having children. Larkin however placed it as symphathy and we get the notion from his poem that the man's freedom has been completely killed just like Dylan Thomas.
From the word "disinherited" we see that Dylan was not seen as a worthy person to take on responsibilities due to his constant battle with drinking. From talking about the butterflies we also see that he is a constant drunk and is similar to a butterfly due to how they appear to fly around. It also mentions his "half-buried heart" which could suggest that while he was alive his heart was dying due to the drink but also to how fragile the heart truly is to anything and has the same appearance towards a butterfly.
We also see that he was missed when he died and we see that he speaks of "collected legends" suggesting to us that he told tales and stories to people. From this we are able to see that Abse is telling us that the tears that fall down people's faces are not from the stories but of this mans' death.
Throughout the remains of the poem we see that Dylan Thomas was a great importance within Abse life and was strongly influenced by his work. The final stanzas depict to the audience that he was important due to how he uses the words "nighingale dark nor in the canary light". From this we get the impression that there is hope represented in both. "nightingale dark" could link to the fact of how the soldiers had the lady of the lamp to help them through the night showing us this resemblance of hope within the dark and is also shown with the use of the light. From all this we see that his death was sudden with the line, "the yolk broke in his head" and finally we see that his death was quick as it ends the stanza of the poem.
Another Larkin poem that would link into this as I have said before would be For Sydney Bechet due to how it portrays the sense of a memorable character. Although people may be unaware of this character we know that Dylan Thomas had a great influence on Abse making him a memorable person to the writer.

Dylan - Dannie Abse

From within this short poem created by Abse we get the thought that the persona is talking about the notion of idols and heroes that are dead. From within the first short stanza we get the words, "A heard silence" we see that their is greating loss within this room and the silence, normally known to be stated as nothing, was heard by everyone could suggest that this death has had a powerful impact upon the people. It appears as though silence has taken over.
From the line, "A stone dropped down the well" we get the use of imagery by Abse and from this get the notion of how that silence is broken so easily with the scuffle of the stone and the echo it creates as it hits the water below. Perhaps this is a metaphor created by Abse which portrays Dylans slow fall to death and the sharp sound of the splash at the end is the shock for everyone that knew and loved him when hearing his death.
As we continue on to the next stanza we see that Dylan had nothing before and is placed as being reckless due to the word "arson". From within the beginning of this stanza we see that Dylan had nothing from the word "impecunious" and continuing with the line we see his life was "like water spilled from a cupped hand". From this we get the impression that perhaps Dylan had a great deal of support from other around him but there was only so much they could take of him. Even with the hands held firmly together, the water is still able to escape and we see that from this similie that Dylan was beginning to loose the support of others throughout this time.
From within the end of the stanza we see that fame came towards him and we see that there could be his desire towards women with the use of the words "lust" and "pimp". From this we see that Dylan might of helped people get their desired lust and gained money by doing so, but had little respect towards the women. The line, "wearing jewels over her sores" supports this due to her covering herself up with the money she has gained. From this however we see that he was not a liked man and we see this due to her words at the end of the poem saying, "Dilly, Dilly come and be killed". From this negative line we see that he was not a loved man as we appeared to of thought at the beginning of the poem. He was really caring only for himself and took what he needed. A poem by Larkin that would link to Abse would be the poem For Sydney Bechet due to how it portrays people that had an importance of life. Myself personally think that the poem Afternoons or Faith Healing is a good example as well due to them showing a negative approach to women also.

At Ogmore-by-Sea this August Evening - Dannie Abse

From this poem we can see that one of the key themes is the sense of loss with a loved one. From within this poem we see that the persona is talking of his father and we see that he is remembered through music. From the line, "who, self-taught, scraped upon an obstinate violin" we are able to see that the father was a very independant man and was pashionate towards teaching himself to play the violin. From the word "obstinate" we get the sense that he was stubborn and was unable to change his beliefs or views into various thoughts. From this we could get the interpretation that the father might of been bad at playing but continued nonetheless of everyones thoughts of his playing.
We also see the link of music within the poem Reference Back by Larkin which portrays to us the sense of loss being brought back by music. Both pieces show us that the memories of this is linked towards music, like the mother and son within Larkin's poem.
As we continue through the poem we see that music is a powerful and important piece throughout due to the line, "Such Power! The music summons night". From this the audience gets the impression that music is a controlling part of this personas life and we see that his father had a great deal to do with it. From within the second stanza we get the notion of death appearing due to the phrase, "death-boat black". From this we get the interpretation that there isn't any hope due to the use of the colour "black" and that this loss is perminant due to how everything has gone dark from the setting sun.
As we continue through the poem we see that the sense of loss is also portrayed once more. From the beginning lines of the stanza, "I see you jubilantly lit, an ordered carnival" we get the impression of his father being happy and with the use of the word "lit" we can suggest that he is now a ghost that has returned. From this line we see that he is no longer of this world but of another and shows us the loss that the persona has.
We then get the memory of a favourite place to the father and we see that it represents a positive view to the audience due to how the persona is remembering the memories they had there whilst fishing. This also has the notion of being negative also due to how the memory brings sadness to the persona.
From within the final stanza we see a great range of language used to show us another key theme of death, by the words, "his skeleton stands". Finally we get the line, "The ciaccona's over, the record played, there's nothing but the tumult of the sea". From this the audience can see that the memory of his father is still strong within the persona and with this line we see that once the piece has finished playing, the persona can only hear the busy waves of the sea below. From this we get the notion that even when the memory fades, nothing has changed and his father is still dead and it is all just a memory and that reality must continue on. This can also link into the poem Here by Philip Larkin due to how he ends his piece with standing near the sea. From this similarity between the two poems we see that reality is beginning to sink in as each of the persona's within the poems are now deciding what they shall do next within their lives.

The Death of Aunt Alice

From this poem we can clearly see just by looking at the title that Abse is talking about a loved one within a family. Throughout the first stanza we see that it is a mournful appearance due to the imagery of a funeral being shown. From the first stanza we are able to pick out that they are within mourning due to the dark colours they are wearing and with how they talk of the aunt by saying, "Poor Alice". We also get the reference that Aunt Alice might of been a religious person due to the phrase, "your bible Page One".
From the next stanzas we see that Aunt Alice had a wild imagination and always spoke of unpleasant things at unconvenient times. From the phrase, "You talked of typhiod when we sat to eat; Fords on the M4, mangled, upside down, just when we were going for a spin" we can see the sense of humour being brought in by the persona for it shows how coincidental Aunt Alice began to create these tales. We begin to see that her imagination was fully alive and never dulled when she came to the age of an adult unlike many adults shown within Larkins poems. An example of loosing imagination within Larkins poems would  be The Study of Reading Habits. Withint his poem by Larkin we see the change of time with the persona and his love of books. As time continues we see his notions and beliefs within these books begins to change as well as his strong imagination he had when he was a child. Within Abse' poem however, we see no change come to this Aunt.
From these stanzas we see just how bazzare and unnatural her mind was and becomes humourous to the audience with sayings such as, "Pitty she ended up in a concrete-mixer".
Then within the final stanza we begin to see the reference of her no longer being with us and has fully died due to the line, "But now, never again, Alive will you utter" and "Disasters that lit your eyes will no more". From this we see that another key link within this poem is death and we are able to see that clearly through these lines. Another Larkin poem that will link to this would be An Arundel Tomb. I find this poem links well into The Death of Aunt Alice due to various reasons. One is due to the fact that there is love represented within both poems. One from the dead couple and the other of the family of Aunt Alice. Another notion is also of the reference of them both being dead but are still remembered. Aunt Alice is remembered due to her gory and horrid stories and the couple remembered due to their tomb that remains. Finally the audience is able to piece a story of the couple within the tomb by the words in the play and it continues to live on through time like the tomb itself has. We also see this notion of being remembered due to the stories within Aunt Alice with how she will continue to tell her horrific stories to the saints that are within heaven and is proven by the line, "pale saints listen... all their tall stories, your eternity".

A Letter from Ogmore - Dannie Abse

From this poem created by Abse the audience is able to make the link that he is talking of the theme time and how it has slowly drifted by us. From looking at time throughout these stanzas we are able to see that with the use of a few historical names such as "Hiroshima? Auschwitz?".We also see within the first two stanzas the use of repitition with the phrase, "Goodbye, 20th Century" which also shows us that the persona is talking about the past and the impact it has had to many people throughout the years with various events that have taken place.
As we continue through the poem we also see the the persona is speaking as though he is becoming part of the history and the past with the phrase, "nostalgia is becoming history". From this we see that he has this longing of a certain period within the past and is so desperate that he is beginning to try to push himself into that memory of the past that was within the 20th Century.
"A genealogy of ghosts" also links into this reference of the past, due to how it states that in time his friends and many others have began to make their ancestrial chain grow. This is a good example of linking to the poem by Larkin known as An Arundel Tomb. This poem links due to how it shows the notion of time quickly passing and the whole thought of things becoming old and ancient over this period of time. From An Arundel Tomb we get the use of medieval imagery coming through by Larkin whilst with Abse we get a more up to date time period that the audience would be much more aware of.
We also see the notion of loved ones fading due to the phrase, "Goodbye, I-must-leave-you-Dolly, goodbye Lily Marlene".  From looking at this we are able to see that we have no power with what occurs and as time continues on we begin to lose people that are close to us and this phrase shares the reference that losing loved lost ones is commen with the aging of time.
Another key phrase within Abse' poem is the questioning of the future with, "Has the Past always a future?". From this the audience is able to see a notion of Abse' beliefs or doubts throughout this poem. From this line we are able to depict that there is questioning of whatever has occured in the past, might not be certain of a future. A possibility of this would World War one and two due to how many soldiers lost their lives and ended up with no future but are now placed as being parts of the past. This is a key example from what I believe Abse is trying to say towards the audience. Another poem by Larkin that would link to this notion would be MCMXIV for its rememberance to the past of the First World War. Larkin talks of how it was within the past and I feel from the point I made from Abse, it is also representing the past towards an event like this.
Within the final stanza we see that the time has now caught up to our era and we see the drastic change that has occured from before. We see that this also links into the poem Here by Larkin due to how it talks about scenery and the imagery it portrays to the readers.

Uncle Isidore - Dannie Abse

From within the first stanza of this poem we are able to see that the persona is seeing various things and people that remind him of his Uncle Isidore. We get this from the word "observe" and as we continue through the stanza we see that his status is observed with the similie of "sprawled like Karl Marx". From this we see that Uncle Isidore is portrayed to be like a memorable person within history. This links into the poem For Sydney Bechet for he was also a memorable figure towards people. As we continue through this stanza we see that Abse is not positive towards his Uncle and places him as being "smelly, schnorror and lemon-tea bolshevik". From this rule of three we see that there is a negative approach for he is placed as a begger and unattractive by the persona.
The notion of him being a begger is supported with the phrase, "slumped, dead or asleep". This suggests to the audience that he is lazy and doesnt do a lot of things which could link to him as being this begger, or even a tramp.
As we move on to stanza two we see more links into historical events throughout time. From the phrase, "Before Auschwitz, Treblinka, he seemed near, those days of local progoms, five year programmes". Throughout this phrase we see continuous elements of historical notes which could relate towards the time of the second World War and the various links to the Russian Revolution. From this we can link to the poem MCMXIV due to it talking about war and its significance. They are both appearing to show various elements of being historical but from different times.
Later on within this stanza we see that this poem is also placed on beliefs with the line, "Have you no shame, compassion? Don't you care at all?". From within this line we see that the persona is stating to us that Uncle Isidore is guesting his views to God. It seems as though he is beginning to doubt everything that he stands for or is arguing against his God for not caring due to what is happening. This could link into the text of the second World War and the building of the concentration camps where many Jews died, this therefore could link to the fact that like Abse, his uncle was a Jew too.
We then see that his Uncle grows into a powerful speaker with the line, ""What difference between the silence of God and the silence of men?" showing people that they are able to stand up for what they belief in and not rely upon God to do something. This poem can therefore link into the various short poems created by Larkin which portrays his views and beliefs within God. For example the poem Nothing To Be Said by Larkin portrays to the readers the sense of death and no matter what you do you will die. This links into Abse' poem due to how it reflects on the amount of deaths that occured within the second World War from troops, innocent people, but also the Jews within the camps. We then a get a change in scenery with this notion of the sky changing and a "serious rain" beginning to fall. We get the notion that due to Uncle Isidore's outburst we see that he has not only angered people that have heard his remark, but also the reference of him angering God.
Finally within the final stanza we see that there is a notion that Uncle Isidore is really dead and this could just be a memory from the persona with how it shows us the arrival of the doctor. Also within the end of this poem we see that he is placed as being wild due to how he is playing the violin and plays towards God once more.

Sons - Dannie Abse

From within this poem we instantly get the impression of Abse talking to us on how is son acts and what he is like. We see that he is much like his dad when he is at this age and we can instantly make the link to another one of Abse's poems Imitations with how he refers to his son appearing like him as time goes on.
From within this poem we get a sense of imagery used to portray to us how his son is like with the different elements that are found within Cardiff. We see this within the first stanza with how Abse is portraying to us readers that change has occured on the lands of Cardiff and that everything is restricted unlike before. We see this from the line, "captured acres played at being small tamed gardens; the concrete way roads supplanted grass, wild flowers, bosky paths". The audience is able to see that change has occured within Cardiff due to the word "supplanted" within the text. Also from the words, "wild flowers" we are able to make the link of that associating with Abse' son. He is wild and uncontrollable like the flowers that use to grow in the outskirts and further more links on to the part of poem where Abse states his maturity will soon switch on, like how the flowers and grass was replaced too.
From within the second stanza we are able to make the link to the Larkin poem of Dockery and Son with the phrase, "I was like that". Within this line we see the relationship between the father and son and links into Larkins poem for that is the key theme held within it. They are both alike within their youth at the time. Further on within this stanza we get the impression of Abse perhaps talking about the struggles that his son is facing with going into that age of becoming mature and is uncertain with it all due to the word "Nowhere". He brings out a negative aspect to this stanza and gives the audience a sense that his son is beginning to see the change that is to occur with him when he begins to grow up.
Within the last stanza we also get the impression that the persona is remembering how it was for him when the reality of being mature came into his life and allows us to link into the poem Reference Back by Larkin. This poem is able to link into it for it represents a sense of loss and this poem links into that theme with how the boy will soon lose his sense of fun and imagination and begin to get the mature adult life that is coming his way. It also could link to this poem for the mother listened to music to remember her youth and we see in this poem that the persona is remembering his youth with looking at his own son.