The Malham Bird

The poem – dedicated to Abse’s wife – describes memories and flashbacks of his life with the woman he loves. The persona (who has a large sense of Abse) describes the odd relationship between him and her – a Gentile and a Jew. He also describes his first holiday with her and the events that went on. The two last stanzas go back to the present where they are married and have grandchildren.

Abse has captured love from the first stanza. He and his wife fell in love and feels it should be on the news for reinventing the world because she is a Gentile and he is a Jew. Gentiles are those who belong in tribes and the tone of the first stanza suggests the unlikelihood of them falling in love. He describes the ‘shocking’ story of how he fell in love with a Gentile. The expiration mark shows that it is shocking and yet is able to fall in love.

The use of the question and addressing his wife reflect the closeness of the relationship and the secrecy of the holiday. It is described as “illicit” and the beach is depicted as “hidden”. This shows the intimacy of the relationship he has with his wife and links to the start of the poem that they may have felt to be hidden because of their differences.

Superstition is linked into the poem. A “tamed seagull” flew over them as they were on holiday. Tamed could mean controlled but could also mean calm like a pet. Tamed pets have loving relationships with their owners which could be what Abse is linking to. The tamed seagull was seen as “a portent” (sign) which could show that their relationship will be loving. This is suggested, also, through the fact that the omen is described as a “love letter”. “As if Dafydd’s ghost had sent it” suggests marriage. ‘Until death do us part’ is a marriage vow and ‘ghost’ could symbolise that. Dayfdd was the prince of Wales and being sent from a prince could have a fairy tale link to it and could suggest that their love will last forever.

The couple were “more than together” which shows how close they were. They were united as one – not just together. They lay together, watching the clouds. The end of the relationship is suggested through: “two chalk lines kiss and slowly disappear” however, Abse could be suggesting marriage again. The clouds (chalk lines) could represent them. They spend their lives loving and kissing until death parts them. The omen (“the friendly seagull”) reappear again which shows that they were truly supposed to be together as the sign as come twice and this time it was “magnified, near”.

After the memories, Abse goes back to the present and thinks about “the malham bird of Eden”. This bird ate the forbidden fruit but, unlike other birds, didn’t get banished but stayed lonely forever. This link could be a contrast. Abse was like the bird. He fell in love with a Gentile which could be seen as the forbidden fruit but unlike the bird, he doesn’t feel lonely. He has his wife and a family – yet, just like the bird, he is “in paradise”.

This poem could be linked to ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ by Larkin. They both show love in couples. However, Larkin doesn’t describe the experience first-hand – he is an observer who thinks negatively about marriage. Abse shows the experience from his perspective and shows love very positively. This poem can also be linked (more strongly) to ‘Broadcast’. Larkin describes his love for this woman and the poem is dedicated to her – just like this poem is dedicated to Abse’s wife. Larkin describes inside jokes and is romantic with his poem. We see this in ‘The Malham Bird’ too. It is based on memories and romance. However, Larkin only describes that one memory – Abse links it to the present and shows that his love, unlike Larkin’s, has lasted.