The Malham Bird

The Malham Bird:
Similar to 'Postcard to my wife' this poem is written in memory of Abse's wife Joan. This poem explores the themes of memories and religion and reminiscing youth. The title alone shows a religious symbol as the 'Malham Bird' was a bird from the garden of Eden which stood out as unlike other birds and creatures it didn't take from the forbidden fruit.
The first stanza shows how they became to love each other, "the great world had been reinvented, we were new,in love" this may suggest Abse believed he was destined to love her and was put on the earth to find her. It also suggests both him and his wife came from different religions "you a gentile and i a Jew" showing they may of been from different faiths but still found love, implying it isn't impossible to find love.
The following stanza's show abse's memory of the relationship, this stanza in particular shows a sense of loss as it starts "dear wife" showing a communication like a letter making it sound more personal, the stanza then ends with a question "as if Dafydd's ghost has sent it?" showing he wants her reassurance and her to answer his question like she used to. Abse talks about lying in the "shadows naked" showing an intimacy and a connection but perhaps the idea of 'shadows' reflects how he now misses her.
In the third stanza Abse uses a metaphor for his wife's death "two chalk lines kiss and slowly disappear" showing how quickly everyday life can change and that you can be with someone then the next they are gone.
The last two stanza's show the idea of the 'Malham Bird' the fact its a "black feathered bird" may resemble death along with grief and loss. Also the bird comes from a Jewish legend that this certain bird didn't get banished from the garden of Eden and was respectable as others showed greed and therefore was able to live in paradise. However they are described as "singing pecked forbidden fruit" which may imply they are happy about their chosen choice, which may imply that that humans may think they are making the correct decision but without realising it often choose the wrong one.
However despite being the bird being alone it is still "forever winging over the vanished gardens of Paradise" showing a positive light in the choices made and that the bird is now immortal.


I feel this poem links well to Larkins, 'Talking in Bed' as both have a theme about love and intimacy but in Larkin's though they are together they are also lonely whereas Abse now struggles with loss of his wife and therefore becomes lonely.

Postcard to his Wife

Postcards are normally written in inform a family or loved one about your experience whilst they are away. In this case the poem is written as Abse being the persona "you, I, Abse's"  and the theme is love and loss after losing his wife in a car crash.
"wish you were here" is a normal phrase used to show affection to someone who isn't with you, but in Abse's case it shows an absence and loneliness. He talks about "Venus de Milo" who is a Greek goddess of love and beauty but to Abse its "only stone" showing without her he has little meaning. Abse shows his desperation to have his wife return "so come home" implying she is needed. "The beds to big!" showing his loneliness and almost feels lost without her, the use of exclamation mark gives the line more emotion and makes it realistic. He talks about his adventures "must go North to climb 2000 feet" perhaps showing something they both aspired to do together but also showing he would do anything to have her at his side.
The third stanza follows the ideas of adventure as the "whim" "twisting" "wild" all showing simple activities but together would become interesting and fun. "where hedges have wild business with roses" this has a sense of romance to it and her company and nature is all he wants. This could also imply in her absence the hedges have grown 'wild' showing things change but his emotions can't be controlled.
The final stanza shows how they could "mimic the old gods who enacted the happy way to be holy" an act of god gives him hope and heavenly love. He also describes himself as "uxorious" showing how devoted to his wife he is that all the grieving is perhaps unhealthy.
The last line shows the emotion Abse went through "absence cant make Abse's heart grow fonder"  showing now she's gone its impossible to love his wife anymore than he did at first.
I feel there isn't a direct connection between Larkin as he writes as an observer whereas this poem is very personal however the theme of love and loss could link to 'Love songs in Age' and another poem about loss 'Home is so Sad'

Terrible Angels

The poem 'Terrible Angels' shows the theme of war and how war has both a mental and physical affect on the soldiers who fight.
The war has a sense of patriotism and proud-ness as "father showed me his war medals" a positive keepsake of the war with their "pretty coloured ribbons" could show that fighting the war was glorified and made to appeal when in fact it affected people negatively. This poem gives a sense that you cant escape the horrors of war as the father tells stories at bedtime, this could show at night when the dreams come its easier to tell others about his experiences.

The persona's father talk about the "angels of Mons" which refers to Battle of Mons, which was the first major battle in World War One. Since this war the legend of the 'angels of Mons' referred to the idea a miracle happened and saved the Troops as the British retreated at Mons in Belgium,  during 1914. This is followed by "expedition from God" showing religion had a main part in the war and that it acted as a lucky charm/guardian which the soldiers could seek comfort and hope in. Also the idea of 'angels' could  show a fantasy idea, the angels in fact looked after the British soldiers and their "invisible presence caused horse to bolt" showing they unsettled nature as ghosts of war but also this could refer to the enemy, the 'angels' cause destruction to the opposition in order to protect.

The third stanza opens with "but war coarsens" as the fighting gets worse "even genteel angels" showing that war changes even the kinder and gentle people and affects everyone. The persona's father describes them as "spoke/ silence of gas" could resemble poisoning and how the gas affected the human body but as they "sang/shrapnel striking helmets" again could resemble how the men died and the fact not everything can protect the soldiers. However in the second part of this stanza the angels become a sense of evil "soldiers screams/ thrilled/the cold angels" which is odd as angels are usually associated with beauty and being messengers from god but they become "bold and bloodthirsty" knocking the purity and peacefulness of angels.

The final stanza is an after-thought as written in brackets which brings more detail and focus to the after thought. " (My father, invalided home, was told he knew more about angels than was healthy.)" Showing the father's persona had a first hand experience and in my opinion these last lines show that for those who observed the war at home via media were almost naïve towards what truly happened and although they may try to understand they wont fully understand. Whereas, the father whom experienced the haunting memories of friends/colleagues being blown up in front of their eyes and the pain that they still carry shows you can never truly escape the mental/physical affect of war.
I feel this poem link with Larkin's 'MCMXIV' as it shows the negativity of war and how people at home and people fighting have a different experience.

A figure of 8

The first stanza opens with a metaphor " In Mr Theophilus's jail" showing how classrooms used to be, the word 'jail' suggests a restricted and confided place to work in. The poem implies a strict structure to school life creating a mundane daily routine, which is no surprise the boy "half listens to a story" showing boredom or a distraction and being able to think for themselves.
The second stanza creates a sense of escape "free at last", arms horizontal" showing freedom and having their arms out suggests a youthfulness and being playful but then Abse shows a division of childish and adult themes as the boy metaphorically "flies to Africa, to see naked women" showing dreams about adult themes suggesting a determination to become older. But this is followed by "farts H2Ss" which brings immaturity back.

The following stanzas show young imaginations. Playing war games "shot down in flames" suggesting a thirst for danger or to become soldiers perhaps someone they look up too. However "someone had bombed the park" this could reflect the child's naivety and how everyday childhood memories can be covered or destroyed by the truth that you learn as you grow older for example the park would hold happy memories that become destroyed by the 'bomb.'
A "spaceship" brings back the childish imagination and the optimism they have; that after all the chaos "safely the boy comes back to base" again showing that the children at home/school are hidden from the reality and the outside world. The last stanza ends with "FUCK WINNIE THE POOH" showing a rebellion against his childhood and the stereotypes and naivety it holds which the child appears to be sick of.
This final stanza shows that the child must then return to their everyday routine and that until they grow older they wont truly understand every issue, but in fact even when you are old you may not necessarily understand everything in front of you showing a perfect cycle "figure of 8" that you cant escape.

This poem links well to Larkin's 'Study of Reading Habits' as during a child Larkin daydreamed about being heroic and as an adolescent wanted to be someone else. The books and characters offered Larkin an escape from reality through the stories but in as he grew older he learnt the truth. In 'A Figure of 8' the childhood was covered by school lessons, and playtime that didn't expose the outside world.

A Wall

This is a short poem about taking things and objects for granted without truly understanding and observing them in detail.
"you wont find it named in any guidebook" showing it isn't important enough to be in a guidebook because its just an ordinary wall that goes unnoticed by many. It lies "plonk in the middle of rising ground" showing it was once important but now overtime other significant things have grown around it. This poem has a sense of identity as "no other wall are adjacent" showing it's lies on its own and holds its own significance. However the wall itself as a symbol represents many "different sizes, different greys."

I feel this poem can link to Larkin's 'Arundel Tomb' as over time nature strips the statues of their true identity and become "blurred" whereas in 'A Wall' the nature is the only part that accepts the wall's identity. Overall both poems hold a sense of purpose and identity.

"Don't say this wall is useless" showing to many it's there on a daily basis and no one truly uses it however it still has a purpose that many may not understand, "it exists for gold lichens" after time nature takes over and appreciate it more than humans.
The final stanza implies that humans just take things for granted and don't understand their meanings whereas nature use the objects for everything, as it creates a sense of freedom for the 'butterflies' as its an "obstacle course" but also creates a sense of security for "huddling sheep."
The poem ends with the line "for you to say, this wall is beautiful" showing it holds a place for everyone and that once in a while you should take responsibility and acknowledge the things you take for granted.

The Death of Aunt Alice

The poem is about the death of Aunt Alice, and how she did many unusual acts in her lifetime. The funeral is described as "orderly" and "decent black" implying Aunt Alice would of approved but then it follows by no one being "berserk with an axe" showing she wasn't everyone's favourite. From the poem it suggest she wasn't as religious as some and her bible was "page one of the newspaper" showing she took more knowledge in what was actually current in her life.
From the poem she seems quite pessimistic about certain topics "typhoid" or "fords on the M4 mangled" showing she has seem many negative issues but to add excitement to a story as she changed some stories with "such disguises and such transformations."

The fourth stanza is set as a list about her friends who each had died, how they died and her reactions. Each one has a witty remark "he never had a head for heights" this could show she covered her true emotions by turning everyday issues into a story to tell and that she lived for excitement as "disasters that lit your eyes." Many events told in this poem are paired with an adjective "pale saints" "tall stories" to give a sense of more depth.

Overall the theme in the poem is death, and perhaps un- expectancy with the idea that everyday events and objects (cars, aeroplanes, factories etc.) can cause death and destruction implying 'Aunt Alice' told the harsh truth whereas others just wanted to pretend and live in a fantasy which may be the reason not everyone was keen to hear her stories as they exposed the truth. This could link to Larkin's 'Sunny Prestatyn' as the harsh truth was hidden but the glorified adverts. 

Two Photographs

This is about two different photographs about two different women who have one thing in common, they are both his grandma's. Throughout the poem they are shown in contrast.
Firstly Annabella who is vulnerable, pretty compared to Doris who is portly and handsome. Though one "fasted" another "feasted."

Annabella has a "welsh with a Patagonian accent" whereas Doris has an "English with a welsh valley's lilt" showing the define difference in their voices and perhaps upbringing. Annabella believes in being "damned" cursed but Doris shakes it with a "devilishly laughed" showing she seems more relaxed. Doris comes across as a rebellious character as she "ate pork!" which in Jewish religion is forbidden also the use of an exclamation mark may empathise his surprise with her actions.

In seeing these photographs he beings to dream and remember the women and their "grey hair" seems "illusory" showing age becomes distant. Abse uses a simile to describe his memories as being "like dust that secretively flows in a sudden sunbeam" the 'dust' could symbolise his memories and the sunbeam could be the moment that made him remember and begin daydreaming.

However towards the end of the poem "what's survived?" he begins questioning  life and that only "amber brooch" "string of pearls" remain, only objects can hold the memories together and "grandchildren will ask who?" the younger generations only rely on the objects or stories to understand what happened, so Abse beings to wonder "I never lived" when he's gone who ill remember him and what objects will hold memories for him to be told to other generations.

I feel this poem links well with 'Love Songs in Age' as the music holds memories and each object/mark on the music tells it's own story, and remembering how time was in the music/photographs allows you to question your own life and how it pleases or upsets you.

Imitations

This poem like 'Sons' shows a father son relationship. "My son and I" instantly shows this poem is a father and son relationship poem. The use of "other side of the glass" shows a division between him and his son, perhaps showing the old and youthfulness.  The idea of  "snowflakes" and "surprised April" offers an uncertainty in growing up as snowflakes don't usually occur in the spring.  This could relate to Larkin's 'First Sight' as again it brought a sense of un-expectancy and loss of hope.

"My son is 16, an approximate man" showing at this age he is still young and the idea of "whitewash" giving innocence or purity but he is also on the brink of growing up and maturing. "Eyes half closed" shows how relaxed he seems and that he has no care in the world other than going about his everyday teenage life and "listen to pop" and "dreams of some school Juliet" showing young love and fantasy.
Abse then goes to describe the sky which I feel refers to his son. The fact "despite a half blue sky" the idea he is growing and knows what he does, it also has "white blossom , whiter snow" he is still innocent and has a lot to come to terms with in life (naïve)

Like 'Sons' it takes the persona make to their childhood "till I'm elsewhere, the age my cool son is " remembering what his relationship with his father was like as he talks how he is now a "duplicate" of him.

The last lines in the poem talk of "two white butterflies" showing freedom and company, perhaps even longing for a loved one (his father) but the butterflies are "held each to each" they become in-separate but then "pass" as disappear as quickly as they came. This could reflect the relation with his father - that you are with them all your life and then take your own paths and eventually it ends and you "pass"

Sons

The poem starts with alliteration, "Sarcastic Sons Slam front doors" this gives exaggeration to these words, offering the idea of adolescents and their mood swings. This poem takes the persona back to their childhood as "I think" takes him back to growing up, the "small-tanned gardens" "wild flowers" are all places in his memory. Now his "son is like that" beginning to become more like his father, and growing up into his own person.
In his second stanza, Abse uses a juxtaposition "both prim and brash?" these opposite's may highlight the changing emotions of the adolescent. The use of the phrase "at the frontier of nowhere" may suggest the use of "nowhere" may be referring to his youth and the idea of finding his youth.

The third stanza again shows memory "a London door should slam" as certain things remind him of home.
The last stanza shows his love for his son, "son, you are like that and I love you" showing he doesn't care who he is and he understands the idea of "not belonging" as you grown up you may feel like you don't belong but just to be yourself and "maturity will switch" showing growing up just comes easily and happens quickly.

I feel this poem links to 'Dockery and Son' as both poem have a sense of remembering youth and taking them back to childhood memories, also in 'Dockery' the persona questions the idea of having a son but in this poem its clear they are fond of each other.

In the Theatre

This is based on truth, in a 1938 Cardiff hospital, they were locating a brain tumour but due to the time era only local anaesthetic was given.

The stanza starts with what the sister on the ward thinking, "only two more on the list" this sounds un-sympathetic but as she only thought it, she kept it to herself. "small voices, small lies" suggesting they don't mean much. Abse gets to a serious point as he talks of the horrors and if they make "a  man laugh" then you should feel bad. Though the operation is made to make you better it can also create more problems as "two more on the list"."

The "patients eyes too wide" showing fear and pain the patients are more awake as they cry "leave my soul alone" shouting in desperation and can't cope with the pain, the nurses and sisters are described as being "petrified" perhaps showing little faith in what may happen. His voice is described as "artic" meaning coldness and a high pitch however the last stanza shows a change in the patient
"leave....my...soul...alone" these gaps in the voice, show breathlessness and gone suggest the patient is slowly dying, this idea is concluded with the "silence"

The Mistake

This poem is about a special plant in the garden. He describes the tree as "once had no identity" but now everyone knows about it. Even though the tree was "from Korea" the tree was sent, but now its found in Wales so "now we had something to boast about" now Wales can have something special to represent it and they were proud because they offered the leaf "proudly."
However "our pagan benediction" their religion will "charm away your cold" and acts as a remedy/ healer.
"Who in all of Great Britain processed such treasure" it makes them stand out from everywhere else. But then came a "summer of drought" following their boasting of this 'treasure' came bad things that became "tired of lies" as became untrue. Perhaps implying if you boast too much about certain things in live they will become untrue and that boast will be taken away.
In the last stanza the "parched tree asserted itself, sprouted ordinary walnuts" it carried on as normal, it offered false hope.

This poem may connect with either Larkin's 'First Sight' with the idea that nature can offer a sense of hope and that out of bad things often comes good however it could link to 'Faith Healing' with the idea of a religious healer- as the tree gave people a sense of hope and healing but in the end turned to be a mistake as all the boasting created the idea to become untrue.

The Boasts of Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd

Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd is a prince, poet and soldier who was killed in battle. He is known as a poet of love.

This poem is boasting about the women he can get as he talks of his women, one for every day. The themes in this poem are mostly love, and how he see's each women differently also the betrayal as he uses more than one women and therefore becomes unfaithful.
He describes one women as "busty next" which describes her physically showing he describes what he see's not how he feels. Another he describes one women as "not to love her is a sin" again perhaps relating to her physical appearance rather than whether he loves her. For the Wednesday's women he uses the word "generys" welsh meaning mistress, he describes "dry old hymns" to please her, showing he will do whatever to impress these women. He describes his Friday's women as his "epic regular" suggesting they often meet, he says "she wants no baby" suggesting it's just for fun. He continues with "let her name be a secret for her husbands sake" showing not only does he fall for any women but also married women.
The poem ends with a sexual innuendo "lick up juices" this may be used to show how he feels towards females and that he can get whatever women he wants, as long as his "busy tongue keeps quiet."

I feel this poem link with Larkin's 'Wild Oats' Larkin describes a women as being out of his league and being a "bosomy English rose" again showing her physical appearance rather than emotionally connecting. I feel both poems focus on the physical side to women but Abse's poem shows how someone can get anyone they want whereas Larkin had more self doubt.

Welsh Valley Cinema (1930)

'Welsh Valley Cinema' is set in, what seems to be a 1930's slums. The cinema seems to be named 'The Palace' but this could also be a contrast because it's found in the 'slums.'  The poem is about the working class whom wait in the "unseen shaft of darkness" waiting for the film to begin.
Going to the cinema brought huge amounts of excitement "thrill" "fairground sight" "carnival" all give a sense of fun and happiness. Abse uses colour imagery by the "changing colours" and the people in the crowd are left breathless by the "musical asthma"

The cinema brought everyone together and the idea that the film "sank to disappear, a dream underground" perhaps symbolises that the audiences dreams are being shown by the films- but become unreachable. Abse uses "gobbing silicosis" to describe the way they breath, the miners have bad breathing due to the dust in the pits. The audience are describe as "observed a miracle" this could imply they have never seen anything like it before, therefore to them its an ideal life and would be a miracle for them to have. Abse uses dreamlike fantasy's both "Goldilocks" and "dab away her glycerine tears" perhaps show a fairy-tale, that dreams are often unrealistic, also dabbing away the tears also could show fake.

The last stanza shows the harsh reality. " woodbine smoked swirled on" the idea that everyday life carries on and that everything was good, "till THE END" when the film finishes it brings back the harsh reality. "Damned fall" everyone exits the cinema to the "familiar malice of the deary, unemployed, gas- lamped street" back to their everyday working class lives. The cinema in this poem I feel offers hope and an escape from reality and in 1930 that is what this type of entertainment offered.
I feel this poem links to Larkin's, "Sunny Prestatyn" because the girls in the posters offered their audience an escape as does the cinema. Both show the idea of the harsh truth of reality that is offered covered by glorified object (posters, film.) It could also link to "Essential Beauty" as negativity was covered by more glorified aspects. The miners in 'Welsh Valley' suffer from poor breathing form the pits but they describe it as "musical asthma."

The Game

This poem has a theme of religion and sport. It is based on a football match at his hometown , Ninian Park. The first stanza sets the scene for a normal match, the crowds, terraces and the bands.

Abse refers to the football game as almost a fantasy, the words he uses to refer to both teams are very different. The team he supports he uses words such as "cherubs" and "wings" symbolising angelic views whereas the opposition is described as "passing evil" and "demons have agents" this links to an idea of corruption in the sport as the "referee is bribed" suggesting the opposition had certain people who bribed the ref. to fix the game.
The 4th stanza represents half-time  as "a distant whistle blows" during the free time, people begin to reminisce old games with "Aston Villa, Orient, Swans"
The sixth and seventh stanza  the nostalgia of the game kicks in as the game restarts however it's described as if they didn't win as people "seem depressed" but the young boys "swarm the field for an autograph" this shows how young and almost innocent they boys are. They don't mind as much as some fans that they lost in a corrupt game but are happy with a footballers autograph either way.

The last stanza shows the stadium once everyone has left, "programmes trampled underfoot" perhaps showing the rush to get out of the stadium. "Dark" and "rain" could be pathetic fallacy used to describe how people are feeling once the game is over, "threatening newsboys shout" this could show they were proud of the game as they "shout" and want to tell people. However the use of "threatening" gives a sense of danger or fear.

Return to Cardiff

'Hometown'; well, most admit an affection for a city:
grey, tangled streets I cycled on to school, my first cigarette
in the back lane, and, fool, my first botched love affair.
First everything. Faded torments; self-indulgent pity.

 

This poem shows how Cardiff holds so many memories for Abse and his first experiences whether good or bad. However now he feels like an outsider as his return seemed like a "raid on mislaid identities" As he moves around the city he finds certain memories such as seeing his grandfather, all the memories shape how he liked the town but now everything has changed as "for what I wanted it to be" for Abse now is just a "city of strangers" and his connection with the city has gone.

Even the places and illusory is different the only thing that holds true memories are "the smell of ripe,  damp earth"

 

The "other Cardiff", the one he had a connection with and remembers has gone and "the boy I was not and the man I am not met" this links to childhood memories and growing up as the boy he was when he was young disappeared with the old memories and the man who he would of become if he had stayed never existed- therefore never met, so he "walked on" and carried on his life he lives now.
This poem could link to Larkin's 'Here' as though that poem has a third persona it still describes a certain place which holds some memory.  



Talking in Bed

Talking in bed ought to be easiest,                                   (it isn't as easy)

Lying together there goes back so far,                              (intimacy)
An emblem of two people being honest.             (paradox- two people lying cant become honest)

 Yet more and more time passes silently.            (no communication. lonely)
Outside, the wind's incomplete unrest                ( un-comfy)
Builds and disperses clouds in the sky,              (clouds covering the truth)

 And dark towns heap up on the horizon.          ( cant escape/ no freedom- nothing to look forward to.)
None of this cares for us. Nothing shows why
At this unique distance from isolation               (lonely, isolation)

 It becomes still more difficult to find
Words at once true and kind,                                            (hard to find things to talk about)
Or not untrue and not unkind             (absence in intimacy, never be honest- hurts someone's feelings)

 

Larkin uses pathetic fallacy to show the relationship, in the 2nd stanza, the wind's unrest may show a stormy, dull weather showing a problem. This poem shows the pessimism in relationships and human nature and how people supposedly act. It also comes across as anti-women as you have to be careful what you say to them encase you make them upset but in reality they aren't necessarily weak.

Self's the Man

This poem has a sense of sarcasm about it, the poem is about Larkin's friend(Arnold) who married a women to stop her getting away. Larkin feels if your single you are allowed to be selfish but as his friend is married he can't be.
He describes the women as being "there all day" this has a claustrophobic feel about it and a desire to be alone. In this poem marriage is presented in a cynical view, the idea you can never be alone again and you need to be careful for what you wish for. "Put a screw in the wall" this line is put in italics to symbolise an order, implying women are always nagging and therefore 'Arnold' has to do the DIY. Women are presented in a negative view, they are selfish and needy. Larkin also points out that his money  "she takes as her perk" when really she is spending it on things that are needed (laundry, children)
The tone in this poem is quite casual, making you agree with the writer and their life experiences. Making the poem more realistic. The 6th stanza uses the word 'but' this gets the reader thinking that both the persona and Arnold are both selfish.
The conclusion in this poem is that they are no different as they are both selfish as Arnold's life was selfish before marriage as he "still did it for his own sake" Larkin isn't married because he knows what he can put up with.

Here

This poem is about travelling the repetition of "swerving" gives the idea of movement through different places. He uses an enjambment which creates a fast tone, perhaps symbolising the movement of a journey by a train perhaps. Larkin offers a realistic and pessimistic view in this poem using the landscape to show the urban industrial side and the romantic view on life.
"thin and thistle to be called meadows"-  the romantic view of a meadow is ruined by the harsh thistles, perhaps showing a danger.
"piled gold clouds, the shining gull-marked mud"- offers a contrast with 'gold' and 'mud' nature sounds more appealing but is often undermined.
"workmen at dawn, swerving to solitude"- people work hard all day, they become tired and wait for the peace and relaxation at the end of the day.
"domes and statues, spires and cranes cluster"- again a contrast between the 'domes' sounding appealing and rich whereas 'cranes' is less attractive and gives an sense of building sites, symbolising destruction.
"cheap suits, red kitchenware, sharp shoes, iced lollies"- 'cheap' 'ice' 'sharp' may all suggest danger or darker views. May be showing his prejudice to the poorer and them being unpleasant.
This poem shows how nature can occasionally offer hope and it sounds nicer and calmer.

Ends the land suddenly beyond a beach
Of shapes and shingle. Here is unfenced existence:
Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.

 

The last stanza offers hope and freedom. The 'beach' gives a sense of relaxation and opportunity giving an end to bad things. But facing the chance to change becomes 'out of reach' you will never be able to get there. This is a pessimistic view on life. 

Down the M4

This poem is about how returning home, changes people and how afraid he seems to hear news about relatives and friends that have died or "go into the hole" Every visit his mother tells him stories about people who they have known who have suffered or gone, he feels his mothers "beautiful face" is now in "ninth grade" implying that she suffering and becoming worn out- yet it also puts a strain on him seeing her like this as he can feel his "hair turning grey."

In this poem the M4 may represent his journey of life, "bridges that leap over" may symbolise people or obstacles in his life that fade into the distance. Also the line of "Ystalyfera is farther than smoke, and god further" I feel this shows the distance between places he feels fond with are too far, he may feel lonely and once everyone has gone what will become of him.

He starts the last few lines by whistling an "old Yiddish tune his mother knows" he feels closer by remembering her showing again music and tunes can hold memories but "it wont keep" the idea that youthfulness and memories wont stay the same, as traditions, places and people all change.

This poem may link to Larkin's, 'Love Songs in Age' as it shares the idea of youthfulness. In 'Love Songs in Age' the idea that over time feelings and love can change link with Abse's mothers old tune that he whistles.

Red Balloon

I feel this poem is about Abse himself and the balloon representing his religion. The balloon itself "landed where i stood" showing a symbol of him, but at the same time it "shone like living blood" showing it could be a danger as 'red' is often associated with trouble. The balloon to him "was my joy" it made him who he is yet "to no one i dare show it" he was proud of who he was and his religion but can't show it to people as he was afraid of what may happen.

He later goes on to describe how the children acted "rude boys came" "girls of Cardiff sigh" also the fact his best friend cries at the fact its a "Jew's balloon" shows the ignorance of the children and how they may be following what their adults have told them, because Abse was different to them. "Some boys laughed" "some lunged" "Some clawed" "but still it would not burst" this shows how people reacted to others being different to them and the danger it can cause, however though they carry on hating him, it wont change who he is which may be why the balloon never bursts. The idea you can't destroy his religion even if you destroy him as they "bled my nose" and "cut his eye"

Abse seems afraid and scared of what may happen to him and that "to insult my faith and steal my red balloon" it shows you change everyone, you may steal from one but not everyone. This may relate to the holocaust as Abse was a Jew, the idea of trying to kill all the people and steal their life but at the same time you cant get rid and steal a whole race/religion from everyone.  I feel Abse may be implying no matter how hard people try to change others there will always be people different who you can't change, no matter how hard some try.

Leaving Cardiff

Abse grew up in Wales and therefore leaving his hometown was tough, this poem reflects his mood of travelling away. "I prepare to sail from where the docks' dereliction's are" he's sailing away from Cardiff, the idea of dereliction's could symbolise him abandoning his hometown. We get the idea he is leaving by ferry and "black shapes upon the pier, make the furthest star seem near" this could show people waving goodbye, but also could be interpreted as his old life is so far away because he is leaving yet distance wise it isn't that far as they have only pulled away from the mooring.
Abse describes himself as being sad at leaving as "knots of water flow, pump to my eyes and spill" this could symbolise  the build up of emotions and him crying at what he's leaving behind.
The poem reads as if Abse didn't have a choice in leaving as "who would choose to go"  hence why he didn't want to leave, he worries about how much he will change once he's left and if he will be welcome when he returns "can i be the same man twice."
The last stanza is about how "the boats under the hill at Penarth, unload and move on" giving a sense that everything will carry on the same, and though he's leaving he needs to carry on his ways just somewhere else, he needs to move on.

Case History

This poem is about how Abse was a doctor in Wales and the connection he has with some of his patients. The patient in this poem is a Nazi who continues to question and glorify the past, " he praised the architects of German-death camps, but did not know i was a Jew. " this shows the problems caused when you question things about someone you don't know. Abse uses a oxymoron "white blacks" to show both contrast and words that are completely different.
The second stanza is memories linked to the patient that affected Abse's background for example he uses many known German names "Goering" "Himmler" to reflect how he feels they treated him and his family during the war.
The third stanza he talks how he is in the clinics dispensary and how "red berry and black byrony" could easily kill him and harm him like they did to his family. The medicines could act as revenge yet he felt himself treating him "as if he were my brother" which adds a sense of respect. This could show what sort of person Abse is, as he didn't let him suffer because of what he did to them instead he moved on and prescribed the correct medicine to help the man get better.
The title 'Case History' could show both the patient being that certain 'case' and the 'history' being the past and what happened to everyone during the war.

The Whitsun Weddings

Whitsun Weddings is a poem about a train journey on a warm Saturday afternoon, Larkin watches newly weds board at each station as their families wave them off.
The opening stanzas give a laid back feel and a sense of "being in a hurry gone" along with the relaxed scenery "hedges dipped and rose" and a "smell of grass " giving the image of the countryside on a summers day.
Larkin describes the girls as being in "parodies of fashion" and being in "lemons, mauve, olive ochres" that made them stand out and show Larkin's snobbery coming out. The fathers are described as having "broad belts" showing a typical proud father, but from this you get the idea Larkin has respect for the males as saying "broad" means big or fat and without saying those he doesn't seem offensive. Whereas the mothers are "loud and fat" which is much more direct showing he may have little respect for them. He uses an oxymoron "happy funeral" two words that contrast each other and show a best and worst time in life. He describes the girls looking at a "religious wounding"  this also reflects the idea joy but representing loss.
Larkin wasn't part of these wedding, he only observed which allows him to be snobbish about the "fresh couples" and their new start in life.

Reference Back

This poem links to Larkin's other musical poems as there are certain puns aimed with music. Also 'Love Songs in Age' links with the idea of looking back on old memories.
The poem is about Larkin's mother who after his father died lived alone, Larkin would travel to spend time with her. The first stanza starts with speech "that was a pretty one" showing his mother is commenting on the music he is playing "idly." He feels his mother "Looked so much forward to" Larkin vising but he didn't feel the same way.
The second stanza shows a classic blues song of Riverside Blues and how with that song holds memories for Larkin of "The flock of notes those antique Negroes blew" and how that all this time after he was born this song  "made this sudden bridge" a sudden connection between him and his mother and though its plays on a musical term this idea shows that the song hold happy memories for both of them. Even though her "unsatisfactory age to my unsatisfactory prime." means it should be his best time in life but he is no better than his mother's age, showing they both led unsatisfactory life's.
Larkin reflects the "element" as time and that it " link us to our losses" links good memories with older not happy memories and that they "show us what we have as it once was, blindingly undiminished" implying youthfulness and optimism. He reflects the idea that growing up changes things for the worse- perhaps as you understand more and that "by acting differently we could have kept it so" by acting in a different way they could of kept the happy memories  they once had without covering them in worse memories.

As Bad as a Mile

A)Watching the shied core
A)Striking the basket, skidding across the floor,
A)Shows less and less of luck, and more and more

B)Of failure spreading back up the arm
B)Earlier and earlier, the unraised hand calm,
B)The apple unbitten in the palm.

This is a poem about failure and disappointment. The rhyming is the simple as is the poem, the fact the rhyme doesn't change may symbolise the unchanged outcome of throwing an apple in the basket. The idea of an unbitten apple is also a religious symbol representing Adam and Eve, the apple- a forbidden fruit was a temptation for Eve and resulted in failure and irreversible. Perhaps the idea of Larkin tempted to try and score the apple but resulting in failure represents this poem.

The Large Cool Store

The large cool store selling cheap clothes           charity/budget shop,  judgmental
Set out in simple sizes plainly                               boring and plain colours.
 (Knitwear, Summer Casuals, Hose,
In browns and greys, maroon and navy)
Conjures the weekday world of those

Who leave at dawn low terraced houses             working class, industry ( Whitsun wedding- classes)
Timed for factory, yard and site.
But past the heaps of shirts and trousers             work clothes
Spread the stands of Modes For Night:              occasions, best clothes for the night Machine-embroidered, thin as blouses,             interesting colours, smarter

Lemon, sapphire, moss-green, rose
Bri-Nylon Baby Dolls and Shorties
Flounce in clusters. To suppose
They share that world, to think their sort is     distancing himself from lower classes.
Matched by something in it, shows

How separate and unearthly love is,               love -mythical, not cynical
Or women are, or what they do,                      women are cheap, sexism
Or in our young unreal wishes                      (feminine rhyme, sounds like it should rhyme .)
 Seem to be: synthetic, new,
And natureless in ecstasies.

Send No Money

Send No Money          .....is now grown up, but needs help.         (cynical poem)         

Standing under the fobbed
Impendent belly of Time   ............loss of time Tell me the truth, I said                   ........he wants the truth and wants to be able to see the truth
Teach me the way things go
All the other lads there
Were itching to have a bash
But I thought wanting unfair
It and finding out clash

So he patted my head, booming Boy
There's no green in your eye           ........Larkin always saw the truth, he's never been naïve
Sit here and watch the hail
Of occurence clobber life out
To a shape no one sees
Dare you look at that straight?
Oh ,thank you, I said ,Oh yes please   ...........  done what he's been told, has manors
And sat down to wait     ..........see what the future brings.
Half life is over now     ..............middle aged, wasted time
And I meet full face on dark mornings  ............ boring life no excitement.
The bestial visor, bent in             ...............helmet to protect him from the future
By the blows of what happened to happen
What does it prove? Sod all  .............. disappointed in what life has brought.
In this way I spent youth
Tracing the trite untransferable       ...........lost his youth, spent it trying to the  truth in life. Truss-advertisement, truth.

A study of reading habits

When getting my nose in a book                           
Cured most things short of school,               ........was a medicine, made things seem better.
It was worth ruining my eyes
To know I could still keep cool,
And deal out the old right hook              ..........fantasy, he could stand up to others.
To dirty dogs twice my size.                ........... school bullies, tougher than him.

Later, with inch-thick specs,               .......mocking his own appearance
 Evil was just my lark:                       ..........wanted to be evil, but cool (bad-boy?)
Me and my coat and fangs
Had ripping times in the dark.
The women I clubbed with sex!      ....reading offers him fantasies, makes him out to be someone else.
I broke them up like meringues.

Don't read much now: the dude            .......reading doesn't feel the same
Who lets the girl down before               .......realised they aren't true hero's.
The hero arrives, the chap
Who's yellow and keeps the store         ....the colour 'yellow' could symbolise cowardly.
Seem far too familiar. Get stewed:        ... he's read all his life, the characters are all familiar. Books are a load of crap.                ....books don't provide reality and truth they only offer an escape

Each stanza represents a time in Larkin's life- the first being his childhood and how being able to read took his mind of school and made him day dream about heroism and being tougher. The second stanza resembles his adolescents and him making out to be someone else, being cooler and evil so he can get girls. The final stanza is pessimistic and that for so long books have offered him an escape from problems in reality yet he's now realised they haven't helped him as he's lost hope and cant understand the true meaning of being a hero as they aren't true.

MCMXIV (1914)

This is one of Larkin's serious poems, about the first world war. The first stanza opens with "long uneven lines" showing the men signing up at an recruiting office but could also show the trenches of war. Larkin describes it as a normal day and the "sun" and "archaic faces" show a calmness and old fashioned view. The poem offers a sense of patriotism "called after kings and queens" show people fight in the name of their monarch.
The last two stanza's show how the country copes during the war. the idea that the "countryside not caring" shows its a safer place to be and the "flowering grasses" show a summery, calm sense perhaps offering optimism. Along with the "tiny rooms in huge houses" offers a contrast as the excitement has gone and "dust behind limousines" show they are no longer used and how everyday life has changed.
"changed itself to past without a word" showing how quickly time and attitudes change but the idea of "without a word" could reflect the men leaving- no goodbyes as they expect to come home also the  fact they go "leaving the gardens tidy" shows they are ready to return to normal. Also the fact "thousands of marriages lasting a little while longer" could symbolise that they are widowed before they realise or are told but also the idea the husbands are further away showing that love perhaps lasts longer. The last line "never such innocence again" implies that war wont happen again in the same way the first war did, as people will never be as optimistic again because of all the horrors  they saw and how much ww1 changed peoples lives and that the nation changed- women went to work and generations grew up with change.

Naturally The Foundation Will Bear Your Expenses

The title 'Naturally The Foundation Will Bear Your Expenses' shows travel and the idea of expenses being paid for.
"hurrying to catch my comet"- this is a poem about travelling away to India on armistice day. Larkin seems quite distrustful in this poem as he blames "colourless and careworn" crowds ( bland, uninteresting, working class) as making his taxi late. He feels the tradition is "solemn-sinister" serious but also creepy (alliteration, words that should match but don't) also the "wreath-rubbish" at Whitehall again feels quite disrespectful.
The final stanza he exaggerates describing how it made him "throw-up" and the "mawkish ,nursery games" shows a childish, parade of grief. Though the poem seems quite negative Larkin feels "England should grow up" showing he does respect the soldiers that lost their lives but feels the tradition is pointless perhaps implying the tradition wont bring them back but cause grief that wont necessary make things better, therefore Larkin leaves London in the grief of the tradition and heads for India.
"But I out soar the Thames"- this shows Larkin rising above the grief and his own decisions and ignores the fact so feels he should look forward and head to meet his friend.

The Importance of Elswhere

Lonely in Ireland, since it was not home, 
Strangeness made sense. The salt rebuff of speech,
Insisting so on difference, made me welcome:
Once that was recognised, we were in touch.

 

Their draughty streets, end-on to hills, the faint
Archaic smell of dockland, like a stable,
The herring-hawker's cry, dwindling, went
To prove me separate, not unworkable.

 

Living in England has no such excuse:
These are my customs and establishments
It would be much more serious to refuse.
Here no elsewhere underwrites my existence

 

Before moving to Hull, Larkin worked in a library in Belfast. The first and second stanza's explore the idea of being elsewhere and that he feels like an outsider due to the different cultures and accents but even though he felt that "we were in touch" using a paradox that Ireland made sense to him.

The second stanza uses different senses to create imagery. (touch, smell, hearing)

However the last stanza shows his relationship with England, he feels lonely and like an outsider in his own hometown, but feels there isn't a excuse because he is the same as everyone else- therefore people should understand each other.

 

This poem gives the idea that your "this" because of "that"- being somewhere different loneliness makes sense because you cant necessary connect yet he cant understand why he has the same feeling back at home. It offers the idea of 'orientalism' the western vs. eastern and the cultural identity of other areas and places.



Essential Beauty / Sunny Prestatyn

Essential Beauty:
Essential Beauty is a poem which reflects the idea of advertising VS reality. The title alone shows that beauty is believed to be 'essential' and without beauty your nothing.
Larkin describes them as "slums with praise" showing negative things can be covered with high expectations and become out of reach. Larkin uses words such as "shine" and "golden" as a paradox for beauty. The description of "youth" showing how young they are and the way its described is more a fantasy rather than a reality but in real life nothing is like the advertisements.
The second stanza as a repeat of "pure" showing perfection but is then contrasted by "imperfect eyes." The relation to classes is also seen by "tennis-clubs" and "gents" symbolising the upper class but also shows the naïve of them as a "boy puking up" is the true aspect of advertising and being imperfect, this could show people feel they can't achieve from outside their certain class in society.  The last two lines "Who now stands newly clear, Smiling, and recognising, and going dark" the words underlined are a contrast perhaps showing heaven and death. The idea that perfection is clear but the way people get the attention isn't always the right way and therefore damaging.

Sunny Prestatyn:
This poem is about posters advertising holidays to the seaside. He shows how the posters show a better life of "white" and "palms" give a tropical feel and the "hunk of the coast" show its attractive and offers an escape. However Larkin describes the women as "too good for this life" showing he valued the women and again the ages is shown by the "laughed the girl" showing optimism. 
Though the poster offer an escape from reality over time the posters become defaced- the graffiti is very negative with sexual references and that the girl is now "snaggle-toothed."  The graffiti is seen as an attack "knife" "stab" and "scrawls" all have an aspect of violence to them, also he describes the poster as being "slapped up" being the way the brush is sticking the poster up, but also the word "slapped up" could be used to show that the women are treated badly and again offers an violent attack.

Very soon, a great transverse tear   

Left only a hand and some blue.   

Now Fight Cancer is there.  these last lines in the poem sum up Larkin's view- the "transverse tear" could show her sadness and 'tears' but reality shows a tear in the poster. The last line about cancer shows the poster being covered up perhaps showing beauty being replaced with the harsh truth. But it also shows that the violence towards women is ignored as people wont deface a 'cancer' poster showing that people act differently towards certain issues in life.

 



Mr Bleaney

This particular poem is set to be about a elderly man who has died but could symbolise Larkin's life.

 Larkin uses symbolism of objects to show his life by adding extra details "sixty-watt bulb" is a low lit bulb perhaps showing his dull life and the curtains being "thin and frayed" showing the physical state and well-being of the man. Also the idea he was "moved" could show end of life and death showing funerals.
The poem describes the man as having addictions of "fags" and "plugging at the four away" could be a metaphor for betting.

 The final stanza is Larkin's comparison:
That how we live measures our own natures,
and at his age having no more to show
Than one hired box should make him pretty sure,
He warranted no better, i dont know.

The idea that you live your life for so long but at the end what do you really have left, than a "hired box" or coffin to symbolise the end of your life.

The rhyming pattern in this poem in each stanza is (A,B,A,B) the fact the pattern never changes could show that it represent simple and dull life the 'Mr Bleaney led'

For Sidney Bechet

This poem reflects the jazz era and the reflection of memories. The poem is based in New Orleans the hometown of jazz composers and the era. The rhythm of this poem is very disorganised perhaps showing the music as the mixed rhythm reflects the jazz beats.

The second stanza shows the positives of New Orleans with the "balconies, flower-baskets and quadrilles" showing the beauty and romantic side of the city. Whereas the stanza after shows the dangers, "storyvilles" and girls like "circus tigers" show he see's them as animals and are dangerous to human beings. Though he seems the danger Larkin starts the stanza with enthusiasm that thing!" again symbolising the way jazz music is seen. Larkin see's jazz as happiness and a "natural noise of good" and the idea of jazz makes Larkin forget his problems of "long-haired grief and scored pity" and let him enjoy life.

Larkin uses pronouns such as 'me, my' making the poem more personal and showing his passion for music.

Broadcast / Faith Healing

Broadcast:
Broadcast is a love poem about music and a concert. The way Larkin writes implies the music doesn't appeal to him as much as others as he describes the music of "snivelling of the violins" this makes them sound unhealthy and not very appealing. The rhyme in each stanza is similar perhaps showing that their relationship has little excitement and is boring.
Larkin describes his love, in a way which implys he misses her "outline" and "withering" show his memory is perhaps fading. He describes himself as "desperate" in trying to pick her out showing he may be unable to live without her. But the final line in the final stanza sums their relationship up as he wants to look around and see her "applauding" showing he wants her to appreciate him.
The final stanza has pathetic fallacy "leaves on half- emptied trees" this reflects autumn and a changing season.
This poem has some context at the side about Maeve's response to the poem he had written a line that implied that Maeve would rather listen to music than to him which is reflected in the poem. The fact Larkin tries to like and understand music suggests he wants to try and win her back but could also show that Maeve just wants a friendship whereas Larkin See's more.

The poem links to Arundel tomb with the idea of love and art (music) also Wild Oats as again the women aren't as interested in him.
Technique used:
-Caesura
-Pathetic fallacy
-antromorphism.

Faith Healing:
This poem is about a healer, he is describes as having "silver hair" showing his age but along with wisdom also the "dark suit" with the "white collar" shows power and authority but also represents religion. Larkin still become sexist as he describes women as "dumb" with "tears" being stereotypical implying women are weak. Larkin describes the crowd as having "eyes squeeze grief" showing you can tell by their eyes that they have bottled up emotions for so long. Even though the healer has been described as helping the people but "nothing cures" giving a loss of hope and that "all time has disproved" he may be saying that religion cant solve everything.
Overall this poem is mocking the idea of a 'healer' and that there is no cure if you cant be loved, but after all love cant heal everything as the absence of love can be made up by religion.

Ignorance/ Nothing to be said.

Ignorance.
This poem comes back to resemble Larkins negetive views, the poem is about life and the idea of a meaningless exisence. He uses the idea of making a choice without knowing much about it. This links to the idea that he feels in life you make choices without looking at consquences or reasons why you chose certain ideas. He backs this idea with "knowing nothing, never to be the same"that if you know little then you are less likely to be intrigued than to if you know more than you should, being a different person. Larkin uses the idea of being " ignorant of the way things work" not knowing much is often harder as you question more yet "for our flesh" for yourself in time you age and change; as does time.
This poem links to 'Nothing to be said' as in both poems there's an idea of life being pointless and the last line in 'Ignorance' is "have no idea why" the idea that in life you have so many questions but many are left unanswered or untold because in life things change and get forgotten.

Nothing to be said.
The main point in this poem is reflected in other poems. It also shows a divide in culture or class, the idea that the rich or poor live their life in different ways. The location of this poem is found by "coble-close" and the "mill-towns" suggesting Larkin located it in Northern England. To finish the last stanza Larkin uses a paradox "life is slow dying" this idea reflects that live lasts to long when all you have as a result is death and to combat the "ways of slow dying" all you can do is "hunting" or "holding a garden party" to just fill up the time you have between birth and death.
Larkin shows the idea that "love and money" along with birth and death are all equal, as you cant measure one without the other.
the last stanza Larkin uses a 'zeugma'( connection of words with different meanings) "hours giving evidence Or birth" implying both are equal yet in different ways. The last line "to some it means nothing; others it leaves nothing to be said" showing two types of people the optimistic people who don't care and the pessimistic who feel it offers a perfect explanation and sums life up.

Days/ Water

Days.

Again this poem is about life and death. The first line opens with a question "What are days for?" this shows Larkin is unsure and wants the audience to think.But also could show that he overthinks to much. There is two voices in this poem which is split by the stanza's. The first is seen in the first stanza which is Larkin questioning himself about life yet the final stanza is him answering his question and the conclusion if life is often death. The tones of the voice seem quite childish and and uncertain. Larkin uses "brings the priest and the doctor" this could indicate when your time is over the 'priest' repressents a funeral and the 'doctor' shows the idea of death or illness.
The idea of the poem is that in life you think too much, which causes and waits for death to approach due to so many unanswered questions.

Water.
I feel compared to Larkins other poems this seems quite positive. He uses a pronoun 'I' which shows its about Larkin therefore it's more personal than many of his other poems. The idea of "water" being refreshing or purity prehaps show the poem is positive.
This poem seems religious as he uses words such as "raise" and "east" which could symbolise recerection. The idea that Larkin wants people to "congregate endlessley" may imply he wants people to be together. Showing an idea of freedom and that 'Water' is endless and shows life or eternity.

Home is so Sad

Home is so sad. It stays as it was left,      -A home is to provide comfort yet now that ideas gone.         

Shaped to the comfort of the last to go    -Left, no one to please or keep safe anymore.

As if to win them back. Instead, bereft

Of anyone to please,it withers so,            -Can't comfort anyone- has no meaning anymore         

Having no heart to put aside the theft      - Stolen' its old life has been taken and is lost.       

 

And turn again to what it started as,

A joyous shot at how things ought to be,          -little things hold happy memories from the past

Long fallen wide. You can see how it was:

Look at the pictures and the cutlery.                 -show memories and emotions of the past.   

The music in the piano stool. That vase.           -classic nostaglia. ( uncovering the past)

 

This poem shows classic nostalgia, everything was better in the past than it is now. However this shows a different side to Larkin as it's him that's sad and his memories and happiness that has been left behind.

The last stanza the use of the words pictures,cutlery,music and vase show how his life used to be. The pictures may symbolise family and company while the cutlery shows family and gatherings whilst the music implys happiness and good memories. The vase could show life and love, as its now empty without flowers could show little life and the lost love that was held in th past.

 

'Home is so Sad'  In the title Larkin uses antropomorphism, a house is an object therefore doesn't have any emotion or feelings. I feel the house is used to repressent how Larkin feels, his house may hold many memories of the happiness and people that have walked into his life and left. Yet  now there's little reason to relive the past as the memories therefore he is left alone and he feels sad. 

First Sight

First Sight:

Lambs that learn to walk in snow                    harsh winter, born early
When their bleating clouds the air
Meet a vast unwelcome, know               winter isn't welcome, spring is needed
Nothing but a sunless glare
Newly stumbling to and fro
All they find, outside the fold
Is a wretched width of cold

As they wait beside the ewe
Her fleeces wetly caked, there lies
Hidden round them, waiting too
Earth's immeasurable surprise                 spring offers hope and surprise.
They could not grasp it if they knew
What so soon will wake and grow         spring gives a sense of hope
Utterly unlike the snow.

This is a generally optimistic poem by Larkin, it describes nature which often offers a sense of hope. The idea that the lambs were born in the snow suggest a harsh winter that's latest longer than expected as lambs are normally born in spring. Due to the winter the lambs are suffering from the coldness and lack of food. The fact the lambs are waiting for "earth's immeasurable surprise' suggests  to them that spring is a great surprise that they wont know and that it brings them hope.
The rhythm of the poem is ( A,B,A,B,C,D,D) this may suggest a cycle at the start which then dies down towards the end representing the seasons. The idea of a cycle of nature and that out of bad comes goodness with surprise or hope.

Ambulances

'Ambulances' is a symbol of morality and mankind's fight against it. The title shows desperation along with being frantic with a sense of life or death. The first stanza opens with a simile "closed like confessionals" this portrays the ambulance as being a place to confess sins before your death and the doctors replace the priest and help you in their way. The idea that the ambulance reaches "all streets" shows that everyone can have help when in need.
The second stanza is  again a typical Larkin as he shows his snobbery towards certain people, he describes the "women as coming from the shops" implying that's the only thing they are good at and the children are described as being "strewn" meaning they look thrown and are just objects place to make the town messy. He uses a oxymoron "wild white" to show the ill people the colour 'white' is often associated with peace or a being bland whereas 'wild' is meant to be a brighter more exciting colour. The word 'Red' also may show a difference in opinion as the colour is often associated with danger or trouble. Larkin describes the people who are watching as being pitiful and almost sarcastic saying "poor soul" at their "own distress" showing they are so absorbed in their self that they don't show sympathy to others. A paradox is used in "for bourne away in deadened air" shows the cycle of birth and death and how the air seems silent and 'deadened' showing no life.
Larkin's view on family seems quite negative because he says "unique random blend of families and fashions, there at last begin to loosen" this line implies Larkin means that together families can be so different  and your searching for a meaning yet before you die everything changes as you begin to feel closer to others and that when you realise your coming to an end, your life means more to you. But death is shown to be lonely and all you do is wait for "what is left to come", perhaps showing you wait for your death.
The title Ambulance is quite meaningful as Larkin focuses on the bad points of the vehicle and how it focuses on the death yet life can also be brought by this. The rhyming in this poem is quite consistent and has a more structured, patterned rhyme. the first stanza alone has a repeated rhyme this may suggest the circle of life. The idea that you need to return to the start.