Possibilities
By Wislawa Szymborska
I prefer movies.
I prefer cats.
I prefer the oaks along the Warta.
I prefer Dickens to Dostoyevsky.
I prefer myself liking people
to myself loving mankind.
I prefer keeping a needle and thread on hand, just in case.
I prefer the color green.
I prefer not to maintain
that reason is to blame for everything.
I prefer exceptions.
I prefer to leave early.
I prefer talking to doctors about something else.
I prefer the old fine-lined illustrations.
I prefer the absurdity of writing poems
to the absurdity of not writing poems.
I prefer, where love’s concerned, nonspecific anniversaries
that can be celebrated every day.
I prefer moralists
who promise me nothing.
I prefer cunning kindness to the over-trustful kind.
I prefer the earth in civvies.
I prefer conquered to conquering countries.
I prefer having some reservations.
I prefer the hell of chaos to the hell of order.
I prefer Grimms’ fairy tales to the newspapers’ front pages.
I prefer leaves without flowers to flowers without leaves.
I prefer dogs with uncropped tails.
I prefer light eyes, since mine are dark.
I prefer desk drawers.
I prefer many things that I haven’t mentioned here
to many things I’ve also left unsaid.
I prefer zeroes on the loose
to those lined up behind a cipher.
I prefer the time of insects to the time of stars.
I prefer to knock on wood.
I prefer not to ask how much longer and when.
I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility
that existence has its own reason for being.
Summary of Possibilities
- Popularity of “Possibilities”: The poem, Possibilities, was written by Wislawa Szymborska, a popular Polish poet, essayist, and translator. The poem is a moderately narrative poetic structure and explains the nature of mankind, and adds that every human is different, and so are their preferences. A person should not try to follow the prevailing trends. Instead, they should create a difference in life, tracking their distinct yet exciting choices. Although the poem gained much popularity with its subject matter, the ironic precession of various contrasting ideas added more variety to it.
- “Possibilities” A Comment on Man’s Nature: The poem is about ideas and making different choices in life. First, she sheds light on her preferences that provide her with sheer delight. She says that she prefers cats, movies, and reading Dickens’s works instead of Dostoyevsky’s writings. Moreover, she talks about her favorite color, her habits, and the creative possibilities that open up when she stands behind the things she prefers. The juxtaposition of various ideas shows that her choices are not aligned with the prevailing trends of society. Thus, her ordinary yet exciting life choices clearly hint about her personality that she loves to be original and individual.
- Major Themes in “Possibilities”: Individuality, the role of possibilities in a person’s life, and satisfaction are the major themes of the poem. The poem tries to propagate the idea that we should not step on the possibilities in life. Instead, we should try to determine what possible things can provide us immense pleasure. He does not take her reader into an imaginary world; instead, her simple and real-life preferences allow the readers to recognize their unique and strong sense of self. Preferring particular things and dropping the idea of other choices exhibit the speaker’s confidence and strong self-belief. Also, it highlights her resolution that she will go against the prevailing trends of society.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Possibilities
literary devices are specific techniques that allow the writers to add deeper meanings and depth to the poems. Wislawa Szymborska used various literary devices in this poem. The analysis is as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “I prefer Dickens to Dostoyevsky” and the sound of /o/ in “I prefer to knock on wood.”
- Allusion: Allusion is a belief and an indirect reference of a person, place, thing, or idea of a historical, cultural, political, or literary significance. For example, in the second part of the poem, the poet alludes to the biblical idea of “hell” in ‘I prefer the hell of chaos to the hell of order’.
- Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. The poet has repeated the words “I prefer” throughout the poem to emphasize the point, such as
“I prefer the oaks along the Warta.
I prefer Dickens to Dostoyevsky.
I prefer myself liking people
to myself loving mankind.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /t/ in “to the time of stars” and /k/ sound in “conquered to conquering countries.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /n/ in “I prefer many things that I haven’t mentioned here” and the sound of /r/ in “I prefer, where love’s concerned, nonspecific anniversaries.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
“I prefer, where love’s concerned, nonspecific anniversaries
that can be celebrated every day.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “I prefer the time of insects to the time of stars,” “I prefer leaves without flowers to flowers without leaves” and “I prefer the color green.”
- Juxtaposition: Juxtaposition is the placement of two or more things side by side, often in order to bring out their differences. For example, “I prefer cunning kindness to the over-trustful kind” and “I prefer Grimms’ fairy tales to the newspapers’ front pages.”
- Metaphor: The poem shows the use of possibilities as a metaphor just to show that one should not move in the same circle of limited choices. Instead, he should try every possible way that pleases him.
- Oxymoron: The poem also shows the use of oxymoron as “cunning kindness” as both are two contradictory terms that have been put together.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. Expressions like “time of insects” symbolizes ancient time, while “the time of stars” symbolizes the present day.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Possibilities
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: The poem shows descriptive diction having metaphors, symbolism, and impressive images.
- Free Verse: Free verse is a type of poetry that does not contain patterns of rhyme or meter. This is a free verse poem with no strict rhyme or meter.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. This poem has thirty verses in it with no stanza break.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from Possibilities are useful to use in debates or dialogues while talking about the distinct choices people make in life.
“I prefer not to ask how much longer and when.
I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility
that existence has its own reason for being.”