"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'
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