An Old Commitment - Abse

From within the first stanza of this poem we see that the persona is reminiscing about a time that has gone by. The persona comments 'my kinsmen slain in battle' this suggests that this poem has an element of history to it and may link to the poem by Larkin An Arundel Tomb as it is giving us a representation of change over time and the loss and significance of a previous event. This may also link to a death poem Home is So Sad as the persona is talking about people who have died in the past similar to in Home is so Sad.

Within stanza two the persona feels as though he is worthless now. He questions 'I had a cause then. Surely I had a cause?'. This suggests that as time has gone by the way in which people perceive him has changed. We get this idea that he has become worthless as a human being similar to the ideas portrays in Mr Bleaney by Larkin.

Within stanza three we get the reference to 'blank as stone'. This may suggest that the persona's life has become boring and repetitive as he has grown older and his mundane lifestyle has reminded him of the old days when he had a purpose within the world.

Stanza four conveys the idea that the persona is travelling. The 'back of brightness' symbolises something positive, this may remind him of the positive lifestyle that he used to have, however he views the back of brightness which suggests that brightness is fading and that positivity in his reality is no longer there, useless and no purpose in life has taken it over.

Stanza six describes a rather colloquial manner in which the persona is viewing the sunset. He simply states things. This could reinforce that his lifestyle has become normal and that he used to have a sense of adventure in his life and purpose.

Within the last few stanzas we get the sense of isolation. The persona comments that everyone has 'departed' literally meaning that he is alone in this vast world. He used to have old commitments when he was young but now these cease to exist. All he can do now is look out into the night and simple observe and watch.