Down the M4

Themes:
- Journey.
- Old age.
- Death.
- Religion.

Analysis:
First Stanza
He is going back to Wales to see his mum about some news, maybe a family or friends death. He is afraid to go back and talk about his mums friends and his aunties and uncles being 'disrobed' and that they are going 'too often'
- 'go into the hole' implies death and burial.
- 'ninth decade' he refers to his mum being in his ninth decade suggesting that she is going to die soon.

Second Stanza
- 'monotonous story of clocks' emphasis on time progressing and being old, also focus' on mothers memories of time.
- The persona suggests that he has heard these stories many times before and sounds as if these stories are boring because they are so repetitive.
- 'perishable one two hundred times' this implies to decay in the short time and this reminds the persona that he himself is getting old.

Third Stanza
In this stanza the persona talks about his grandmother and praises her and her influence on others, he refers to her as being 'genuine' and that she 'tells the truth' suggesting that she has experienced alot over her time,he refers her accents to stones, but unlike her stones last forever.

Fourth Stanza
This links to the title of the poem 'Down the M4'
- 'bridges that leap' metaphor, links with 'shrink into the mirror' personification, this could suggest that you can only go forward and reflect on the past.
- 'farther than smoke' links to life as the smoke stays for a long time but then disappears, the use of 'farther' suggests a long distance.
Abse reflects on an old tune that him and his mother used to sing and realizes that 'It won't keep' suggesting the end of her life.

Links with Larkin
- Here - journey reflecting on thoughts and surroundings, isolation, being alone with thoughts
           -  although Abse doesn't put emphasis on the surroundings and doesn't take much in.
- Reference Back - old age, the elderly woman wants to go back but Abse realises he can't go back and just looks forward.