Cousin Sidney - Abse

Cousin Sidney is a poem by Abse about Sidney who goes to fight for his country during World War Two. From within the first stanza we already see that Sidney wants to feel the sense of adventure. He tried to 'break his garden swing, jumping on it' suggesting that he is rebellious in character, however also not responsible with some of his actions and may make wrong decisions as a person. He also wore 'size 12 shoes' and 'at fifteen the tallest boy in class'. This may suggest that he looked a lot more mature for his age when he was younger.

Within stanza two we understand that Sidney has used his maturity to go and join up with the army. It says 'hero Sidney lied about his age'. This may suggest that he is making a wrong decision about joining the army, as he is too young and he is putting himself into a life threatening situation. He is also described as a 'silly ass' suggesting that this is a foolish act, however Sidney has took the decision to go and fight in the war even though it may not be the right decision. We understand later in this stanza that the decision Sidney has made has had devastating consequences and resulted in his death. 'Some foreign corner was forever Sidney' suggesting that he has died while fighting in France.

Within stanza three we get the emphasis of the emotion that the family members are feeling. His father comments 'Missing not dead please God, please'. A desperation for Sidney to return is conveyed through the father, the repetition of 'please' connotes the idea that the father is literally begging for Sidney to return. Abse may be making a wider comment that when it comes to death the large majority of us don't face the realistic truth. The father hopes that he is missing, but this is just hope and not reality, the reality is that Sidney has died.

Within stanza four we then get the emphasis of emotion from the Aunt and the Uncle. The word 'onion' is used to suggest that the death of Sidney has naturally triggered her to feel emotional, this further reinforces that Sidney would of been close to his mother and father. We also get the reinforcement that Sidney has gone now through 'the unswinging empty swing'. Before he was jumping on it, now there is just air. This is reinforcement that once we die we are gone forever. The fact that the aunt stands by this swing suggests that she yearns for Sidney's return, it's as if she wants to go back in time to when he used to jump all over the swing. The Uncle also seems angry when he comments 'Bloody Germans' suggesting that he wants to get revenge on the Germans which acted as a catalyst for many men in getting involved within the war effort.

We then get a very sad ending to this poem through the last stanza. We understand that the Aunt and Uncle 'went missing'. This may suggest that the reality of their sons death may have sinked in and that one day they just decided to get up and leave. Another reading could be that they may have decided to kill themselves as they were so overcome by grief, so that they could go and join their son. I think when Abse makes a reference to 'missing' this could be a metaphor for the family leaving this world and going on to a better place. And now 'strangers' reside there suggesting that the memory of this family has faded, that they now belong somewhere else now, that we do not know of, happy.

This poem clearly links to the Larkin poem MCMXIV as they both cover the themes of war and it's effects on people within the 20th century.