This poem by Dannie Abse describes an unnamed wall located in the countryside of Glamorgan, Wales. At first glance, the wall seems useless as it begins and ends for no apparent reason and has no other walls adjacent to it. However, the poem suggests the wall serves purposes like providing habitat for lichens and butterflies, and shelter for sheep. The poet's view of the wall changes from the first to last stanza, implying that what seems useless may have meaning from another perspective.

1. Olivia Ansdell &
Georgia
Punchard.
A WALL

2. o In this poem Abse describes a wall. He gives the wall no purpose as
the wall is “just there”.
o At first glance the wall appears to be a useless wall as “it begins for no
reason” and is “seemingly unremarkable” but “seemingly” implies that
the wall only looks useless and that there is actually a purpose for it.
o In the first stanza it’s clear that the wall is not spoken of highly, but in
the second Abses opinion seems to change.
o In the second stanza the wall suddenly has a purpose as it “exists for
golden lichens to settle”, “for butterflies” and “for huddling sheep in a
slanting rainfall.”
WHAT THE POEM IS ABOUT.

3. o In this poem Abse tells us that things aren’t always what they appear
and that their purpose, or the appearance that there isn’t one, can be
mistaken. This means that this poem can be linked to Larkin's Arundel
Tomb.
o In Arundel Tomb it gives the message to not judge something on
appearance, and how easily things can be misinterpreted, likewise with
how people view the wall in this poem.
o Another theme shown in this poem is loneliness. As “no other walls are
adjacent” to the wall. This creates an image that the wall is lonely and
isolated from everything else, this can interpreted as how Abse is
feeling. This personification is also found in Larkin's poem Home is so
sad.
o In this poem Larkin tells us how sad and lonely he is by portraying
himself as a house likewise to Abse with the wall in this poem.
LINKS TO LARKIN

4. o With this poem Abse tells us that even though something seems
useless, that to someone else or through a different perspective
everything can have meaning.
o There are a lot of things which goes unrecognised and there’s a lot of
people who seem unimportant and invaluable but Abse shows us that
just by looking at it in a different way you can see its potential.
o He tells us to not judge a book by its cover and to give people/ things a
second chance.
o Abses opinion of the wall changes quickly from the first stanza to the
last, this implies that if you allow yourself, your opinion of things could
change quickly and if you allowed yourself to you could see the good
and the purpose in everything.
A MESSAGE

5. A wall
in a field in the Country of Glamorgan.
You won’t find it names in any guidebook.
It lies, plonk, in the middle of the rising ground,
Forty-four paces long, high as your eyes,
It begins for no reason, ends no place.
No other walls are adjacent to it.
Seemingly unremarkable, it’s just there,
Stones of different sizes, different greys.
Don’t say this wall is useless, that the grass
On the shadow side is much like the other.
It exists for golden lichen to settle,
For butterflies ton their obstacle race
Chasing each other to the winning post,
For huddling sheep in a slanting rainfall,
For you to say, “This wall is beautiful.”
- Dannie Abse
A WALL