"In India when I was a boy they had great big green lizards there, and if you shouted or shot them their tails would fall off. There was only one boy in the school who could catch lizards intact. No one knew quite how he did it. He had a special soft way of going up to them, and he'd bring them back with their tails on." This highlights the unique skill and gentle approach of the boy in catching lizards without causing harm or losing their tails.

"That strikes me as the best analogy I can give you. To try and catch your poem without its tail falling off." Durrell uses this imagery to describe the challenge of capturing the essence of a poem while preserving its integrity, much like catching a lizard without losing its tail. It emphasizes the delicate balance needed in creative work.