Delia, attempting her usual pleasantries despite the sadness she’s drowning in, says she might pick it up herself. The older nurse notes that she studies Spanish as a hobby. This covert observation proves useful at the episode’s end, as it allows Nurse Crane to comfort Delia in the wake of Patsy’s departure.Īfter Patsy has said her goodbyes, Nurse Crane, clutching a Spanish-English dictionary, runs into Delia in the corridor. But early in the episode, Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett) happens upon Delia exiting Patsy’s room one night (both are clad in their pajamas) and merely stops at a distance to watch them without judgment. Their love is secretive up to this point, they have been able to keep the myriad residents of Nonnatus House in the dark. When Patsy (Emerald Fennell) decides that she must return home to see her dying father in Hong Kong, Delia (Kate Lamb) is simultaneously crushed and supportive. But in 1962, the romance between Patience “Patsy” Mount and Delia Busby, between any two women, is still taboo (not to mention illegal). That love sometimes takes the form of the bond between mothers and babies, between husbands and wives, or, interestingly, between nuns and their god.

Here’s a translation of the poem that’s recited in the show:Ĭall the Midwife has always been a show about two things: women and love. Though there’s certainly nothing “lowbrow” about this particular show (I leave the closed captions on to catch every inscrutable turn of phrase, from British slang to the spelling of “Mother Jesu Emmanuel,” “Akela,” and “Babycham”), the intersection of poetry with television, even verbose British period pieces, is fascinating because of one’s mass appeal and the other’s relatively more niche status. Looking at this episode of CtM is an excellent way to introduce the focus of this newsletter, blog, or whatever you want to call it: poetry and popular culture. I was really excited to see some poetry pop up in episode 2 of Season 6: Lorca’s impeccable “Es Verdad” (“It’s True') is recited in its entirety by Nurse Crane in an attempt to soothe Delia’s heartache. I’ve spent many a weekend sobbing in front of the television watching this show, thanks to the music, the imperiled babies, and Vanessa Redgrave’s soothing narration. PBS’s highly acclaimed Call the Midwife is a great way to burn through your mascara.

Sad soft music for poetry recitation