in this poem Abse is trying to convey the journey through life and the curiosity of what happens after death. 'To reach the other world'.
in the first stanza it seems that Abse is talking about how some people sought out hemlock, a poisonous flower, to reach the other world, which it is assumed it's the afterlife.
the second stanza mentions how some people pray to their 'messiah' or god to reach the other world, possibly paradise. but Abse then says 'gods had human faces and were flawed'. which could mean that Abse thinks that because something has a human face it's flawed and no longer sacred.
the third stanza talks about 'Apion' who in greek mythology criticized jewish culture, and as Abse is jewish it could explain as to why Apion is described as 'prying'
the fourth stanza has a lot of greek mythology.
in the fifth stanza, Abse mentions Ogmore, his home, so it is more personal to him, it appears that Abse doesn't believe or want to believe in greek mythology as he says 'from which no sulking proteus will rise'.proteus is an earl sea-god
in the sixth stanza Abse seems to explain that he will 'never hear the spheres, their perfect orchestra, or below, with joy, old triton playing out of tune' this could suggest that he wont be one of the people who go on a 'quest' to find 'the other world', therefore he will never find whats in it.
there is some enjambement in the stanzas but not in between, which gives the poem a regular rhythm. there is no rhyme scheme. there is lots of greek imagery.
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