The Possibility

James Fenton: english poet, journalist, and literacy critic. Son of a Biblical scholar.


The poem:
The first line, "The lizard on the wall, engrossed" reminds me of Florida when the lizards would climb all over the house and onto the windows. The seemed to think that we couldn't see them, like they were blending into the background. Even though we saw them, they believed the were invisible. When you take something for granted, or forget the importance of something, you may lose the "good" in that object. The flower that was once so beautiful, he didn't find beautiful at first. Maybe with the first inpression it wasn't as great. Work is beautiful because it is an art, and states the independence of a person. Work may also show pride for some people. He also states, "my solitude was beautiful" was, so now he doesn't think it is beautiful? Maybe the author feels guilt for signs he didn't see earlier. He thought he could handle all of his flaws, but maybe he couldn't handle anything after all. Maybe with time pain may heel, but in this poem i think the poet is trying to express how hardship can be overcome with the simple understandings of life.