A Wall

Themes
Nature, purpose, beauty, an appreciation of the smaller things in life, value

Content
This at first seemingly simplistic and short poem about a wall and the creatures it accommodates contains a hidden message concerning how everything in this world is of value and that everything and everybody has a purpose and beauty.

Analysis

• The first line of the poem has no capital letter as it follows on from the title in order to expand on the placement of the wall. Abse uses the indefinite article "a"-"A wall" and "a field"- to present the idea that the wall is not specific and could be anywhere. The first line provides a simple description of the wall without including much depth or background, thus in some ways making the poem universal.
• The wall won't be found  "named in any guidebook" as it is nameless and nondescript- people only name things that they believe to be of worth. If an object is not unique or outstandingly beautiful in the eyes of humans, it is not worth mentioning or visiting.
• Throughout the poem, Abse speaks directly to the reader ("You") so as to ensure that the reader knows that the message is aimed at them and the simple statements make the poem easier to digest. The wall "lies, plonk, in the middle of rising ground", with "plonk" having negative connotations and suggesting a flippant tone. "It begins for no reason, ends no place"- this comment could be seen to relate to how people often feel directionless in life and are frowned upon for not having a clear and set path ahead of them. The wall stands alone in the field, isolated and odd in that there are no walls "adjacent"- it is as though the wall just appeared one day without purpose and can be compared to nothing.
• Abse states that the wall is "seemingly unremarkable", though the word "seemingly" suggests that he disagrees and that everything, even if apparently there for no reason, is remarkable in its own way. Upon closer inspection, the wall is found to have unusual and peculiar characteristics- "stones of different sizes, different greys"- which make it unique and display how society makes judgements too quickly based on first looks.
• Moving into the second stanza, a switch of tone occurs from speaking of the wall blandly to championing its presence in the world. Through the use of the imperative sentence "Don't say this wall is useless", the reader is forced to rethink their previous opinion of the wall and dwell on what possible purpose it could have. The purpose of the wall depends on the situation as the wall offers various solutions for differing problems. The wall is a vessel for life, where "golden lichens...settle" and a way to mark the finishing line for "butterflies". It offers shelter for "huddling sheep in a slanting rainfall" to ensure that they survive the day yet humans do not see this other side of the wall so to speak. They believe that if one thing is like another, it is the same and undeserving and humans do not see the beautiful and "golden" side to nature- nature is valuable but overlooked. Abse wants the reader to appreciate life and every aspect of it; "to say 'This wall is beautiful'" and to fully understand the role the wall plays in life and value it for this. In its simplicity, the wall is awe-inspiring.
• The first stanza of this poem centers around society's perceived view of the wall and contains no enjambment to present blunt and factual statements- people feel no emotion towards the wall.
• This structure changes in the second stanza as Abse tries to open the readers eyes to the beauty and worth of the wall. For this reason, enjambment appears to emphasise how the wall can be associated with freedom and nature.
• Abse uses this poem to ask the reader how beauty can be defined. The wall is not beautiful for its appearance but for its purpose in aiding nature and its uniqueness. What is beauty? Must an object or person be named to be recognised and esteemed? Though the wall may be perceived by society as worthless and undeserving of a name, this man-made structure now exists to serve the purposes of nature- something we humans tend to forget to do. If something does not benefit us directly, people often dismiss it and too quickly judgements are made on appearance when if you look closer, there is great beauty.

 

Links to Larkin

Themes- 'Here'- In both poems, a stark contrast can be identified between the human world and nature and something that has a purpose in nature is often overlooked by humans. Larkin presents the image of nature growing "unnoticed" and "hidden" just outside of the reach of the modern world, just as Abse shows how nature is thriving under the nose of industrialisation and human attention.

'Ignorance'- As humans, we often think that we know everything and even when we are uncertain, we feel that we are forced to "qualify" our "imprecisions". However, in reality, we are "ignorant" to the processes and creatures around us and their beauty, yet they remain beautiful despite this.

'Sunny Prestatyn'- The human portrayal of beauty is utterly flawed at its most basic level as beauty is not purely skin-deep and should be based less on appearance and more on the inner workings of a person. Despite this idealised version of beauty being false, people cannot help but "stab" through it as they are unable to appreciate beauty- this then is perhaps why nature prefers to stay hidden.

'An Arundel Tomb'- a decaying and old remnant of times past may appear to have no purpose when in fact its purpose lies in its ability to inspire hope in the people that view it. Similarly, Abse's wall serves the need of the creatures of nature which are unseen by the human eye but appreciate the service of the wall nonetheless.

'Nothing To Be Said'- While Abse presents the positive idea that life can be used for a good purpose, Larkin believes only that actions of are of no consequence-it is all just a way of "slow dying".

'Water', 'For Sidney Bechet'-The most simple things can be the most beautiful and these things are what humans should really appreciate as they are pure and uncorrupted.

'First Sight' -The fragility of nature and its creatures and the positive surprises that can be found on Earth to sustain life.

 

Tone-

Commanding-' Toads Revisited','Self's the Man'

Admiring- 'For Sidney Bechet', 'Here'

 

Technique- Abse uses the second person pronoun "you" in order to make the poem directly applicable to the reader and to make the reader become emotionally invested in the poem, much the same as in 'Home is So Sad'.

Alliteration also appears ("shadow side") to mimic the soft sounds of nature, thus linking the poem to 'Here'-"silence stands".