How to Larkin and Abse present History in

Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about history

History is all about time and change, the good, the bad; both poets explore events, that changed the world forever. In Larkin's MCMXIV we see how the first world war affected the home front, as well as the world as "such innocence" is forever gone. Also in Abse, A letter at Ogmore, shows the extreme events of the 20th century take a personal effect on him, but questions is it the end of it all "has a past always a future?". Thus, both poets are neither critical nor supportive of what happened, yet remembering. which is initially a definition of history.
MCMXIV reflects upon a time where war was perceived as an adventure, men "grinning" as they are about to embark upon their new adventure as if it was a day of "bank holiday lark". Larkin writing the poem years after the war, shows the dramatic irony/ironic sense to the men's excitement for war, by the knowledge of knowing what they are going to endure. Death, which juxtaposes the initial excitement. Larkin also notices the change that war brings, and how it was so subtle that it occurred "without a word", somewhat like the war did upon the people. Larkin personifies the country side as not caring about the war, at the time aristocracy ruled the land, with it's "servants" and ""limousines" contrasted to a different world that hadn't been affected by war. Larkin here is showing how at the beginning of the 20th century, the division of the social class system not yet affected by the revolutionary change of war. In the final stanza, Larkin juxtaposes the stanza in a split of the men before the war and the men after. The history of the two, where the split is a metaphor for the change that revolutionised a whole generation. How the "innocence" was never seen before, which is a reflection onto the completely new warfare used, shocking the majority of people due to the death rate. However, the last line "never such innocence again" reinforces the idea of a world that was easily lived for those in the aristocracy, the simple working lives, would no longer be known as the change showed a new independent life for all.
Adrundel Tomb is also a reflection of the passing of time, and the change that it brings. The centre piece of the poem is the tomb stone of the an old pre 17th century earl and his wife, this tomb reflect on their money, enabling them to set in stone, their history, their name and their love.The passing of time is visibly described through the "blurred" faces, which here shows that the things in history that aren't important "blur" away, which contrasts to MCMXIV as the first world war is forever remembered. Larkin shows mild cynicism in saying "they would not think to lie so long".. suggesting that the couple wouldn't have expected their legacy to last a hundred years, let alone five hundred. Larkin's tone changes midway, similarly in MCMXIV when looking at the significance of the gesture in the statues (observing the loss of innocence). Holding hands has been the spotlight of attraction on the tomb, for this detail has survived the erosion of time, which shows the strength in their undying love, alternatively in MCMXIV the love of the country (patriotism) kept people strong throughout the war. In Larkin's last line of the poem, "what will survive is love" is sometimes a sentimental misreading, but to anyone interpretation it can mean anything. In MCMXIV even though the innocence was gone, the love carried on, through the a bad course of time.
Abse too relfects on history, he however, unlike Larkin, shows a more nostalgic reflection on the 20th centry in A Letter From Ogmore. The poem is about his farewell to the 100 years, and being born in the 20's he has first hand experience of growing up in a quick revolutionised, modern world. Looking upon the good and the bad, the repetition of "good bye 20th century" suggesting that all that has occurred is now history. Abse starts off by looking at two significant events of the 20th century, "Hiroshima" and "Auschwitz", both of which occurred in world war two, but war here acting as a catalyst of awareness to make sure the holocaust doesn't ever happen again, but it's also the catalyst of modern weaponry, every country today now in possession of a nuclear weapon. Abse goes on to referring to the "genealogy of ghosts" how time passes, the amount of death within the century is kept alive through memory, in which links to his personification of Eros (the desire to live) supporting the idea of the dead alive in memory.  Abse questions whether or not "has the past always a future" simply stating will such events ever occur again? or with one of the main significances of history being the aspect that we learn from our mistakes and ensure they never repeat. On a personal note, the haunting remark of  "will there always be a Jack boot on the stair?" reference to the Nazi's war crimes of the answer to the Jewish question, which this boot for Abse is always a personal reminder of what the people of his religion, family member potentially went through and will always subconsciously go through. Within the final paragraph, a summery of the century, it's commercialisation and with the metaphor or the sea at Ogmore, represents humanity - with tide in, humanity covered up is "beautiful" "various" and "old", but with tide out, it is "Vexed",  "external" and "Murderous". In which this ties in with MCMXIV as reinforces Larkin's idea of "Never such innocence again".
Abse's Cousin Sidney highlights the effects of war on a personal level. It's a poem about his cousin, Sidney, who with his "size 12 shoes" and achievement of being "tallest boy in his class" is able to lie about his age and sign up to war (1940 so beginning of world war 2". Sidney's rebellious, carefree nature is shown in stanza 1 where he "break his garden swing, jumping on it", could also show his uncontrollable excitement for war in general. Lieing about his age, here too shows the initial excitement for war, the adventure he will partake in. Similarly, in MCMXIV where the first stanza shows the eager men heading for war.. The dramatic irony in both authors, as they both know the horrors of war, and even Abse at the time might not, but writing the poem would do. Sidney is referred to as a "silly ass" by his family as the know he has made the wrong decision, this shows that through time, the opinions of going to war have changed, less encouraged. We find out that he is killed in the battle of Dunkirk, and the emotional effects it has on Sidney's family, "raw in onion air" which is a metaphor used to show the constant uncontrollable crying. Abse here is showing how war singularly affected everyone, how it is a unforgettable moment- supporting his "genealogy of ghosts" in A Letter from Ogmore, how the dead live on in memories throughout history.
Both poets have shown how history changes through time, significant events change the way histories course is heading, and it enables us to learn from mistakes and come out strong so they don't happen again. Adrunel Tomb illuminates MCMXIV the passing of time, with the significance of a single event, on time, however strong it is stay for as  long as it will. And Abse's Cousin Sydney shows how war singles out men to fight, their enthusiasm hasn't changed from MCMXIV to Cousin Sydney, but also how in the long run, the horrible events live on and "never" forgotten.