'Musical Moments 2.Outside a Graveyard' - Dannie Abse.

'Musical Moments 2. Outside a Graveyard'.

This poem by Abse is about the death of Miss Crouch, Abse's piano teacher. Through out the whole poem I got the impression that he is nostalgic when he reminisces about certain memories of Miss crouch and when he juxtaposes about observing her at a "romantic Moiseiwitsch concert".

Quotes and meanings.

Quote 1: "Many nearer than you have gone, too many, so your going does not touch me deeply".

Abse writes about how much of impact Miss Crouch's departure has had on him and how he feels about it. Quite frankly, Abse does not seem to be struck by her death as it is indicated that Abse has already experienced losses before of the ones he loved.

Quote 2: "yet I want to say, 'Sorry, Miss Crouch,' now that you are dismissed forever."

Here Abse is sympathetic and there also is irony. In 'Musical Moments 1' we see Abse being overjoyed when he says "O joy, Miss dismissed!". The fact that Abse now feels like apologising for the death of Miss crouch in 'Musical Moments 2' shows that he feels bad about having said that and he's looking back at the time he said it with "sounding regret". Also the tone in which Abse first said it is charismatic whereas in this poem, we see that tone fade and Abse realises that Miss Crouch has now been "dismissed forever" and so he begins to focus his attention on Miss Crouch in this poem and becomes more descriptive of every little detail.

Quote 3: "You were so unassuming and gentle. If there's a heaven, that's your address."

Abse paints an angelic picture of Miss Crouch. She is also described as being "blessed and sedate in evening dress" which creates an uplifting atmosphere even though the poem is about such a sad topic. 

Quote 4: "as if that music was making love to you".

This clearly shows that Miss Crouch was a woman with a very strong passion for music. The fact that Miss Crouch is also not married could imply that her only true love was music and that it was something in her life that could take her to another world where she could escape and show her true colours. Abse personifies the music to highlight the effect that the music had on her and the way it seemed to control her movements as she "sat thrilled in the stalls, eyes raptly shut", trying to embrace every note of the music. This shows that music also made her feel at ease. In the same stanza, Abse also juxtaposes between the past and present and he writes about how he "Once, after the war, observed you" and "Now I stare..." which shows Abse looking back at the time when Miss Crouch was alive with admiration of her music and talent.

Quote 5: "blessed and sedate in evening dress".

Again, this paints an angelic picture of Miss Crouch and she seems to be portrayed as a saint till the very end of the poem. The fact that she is in an evening dress shows that Abse is picturing her from his imagination, being dressed for a special occasion which may well be another romantic concert in Abse's mind. With the way that Abse describes Miss Crouch here, makes me also imagine how she looks and the way in which she is playing the piano. 

Quote 6: "yes, you and the piano triumphantly rising between the clouds, higher and higher".

So once again we see Miss Crouch being portrayed as saint that is making the final transition from life to a world after death and the fact that her piano goes with her shows that she was attached to the instrument and it had some sort of sentimental value. It could also show that the music that she played had an exalting effect on her audience that made them feel as if they were being purified through her music. "Rising" is a positive noun that metaphorically brings light to the poem and it glorifies Miss Crouch and her piano. Rising could also suggest the exuberance and freedom in heaven.

Links to Larkin poems.

'Ambulances'.

In this poem by Larkin, he explores the theme of death like Abse and Larkin describes the final transition from life to death also: "fastened doors recede". Similarly, Larkin shows the people's sympathy as they see the body being taken away in an ambulance: "Poor soul, they whisper at their own distress".

'For Sydney Bechet'.

The way in which Miss Crouch is describes by Abse is similar to the way Larkin writes about Sydney Bechet. Both women are full of exuberance when they play their music and it seems to give them the freedom to express themselves. Larkin praises Sydney for the music she plays: "Oh, play that thing! Mute glorious Storyvilles". We also see this being done by Abse when he writes "yes, you and the piano triumphantly rising". Both poets also write about the impact that the women's music has had on them.