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.