Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "Losing Track" poignantly captures the lingering presence of a departed loved one and the melancholic realization of being alone again. Through evocative imagery and a reflective tone, Levertov explores themes of memory, loss, and the transient nature of emotional connections.

The poem begins with a wistful acknowledgment of absence: "Long after you have swung back / away from me / I think you are still with me." These lines convey a sense of longing and the persistence of memory. Even though the physical presence has gone, the emotional and mental presence remains, haunting the speaker with its closeness.

Levertov uses the imagery of the sea to illustrate this lingering presence: "you come in close to the shore / on the tide / and nudge me awake the way / a boat adrift nudges the pier." The tide, representing the cyclical nature of emotions and memories, brings the presence of the loved one back to the speaker, gently awakening them to the memory. The comparison to a boat nudging a pier adds a tactile dimension to this encounter, suggesting a subtle yet undeniable impact.

The poem delves into self-reflection with the metaphor of the pier: "am I a pier / half-in half-out of the water?" This image of being partially submerged in water symbolizes the speaker’s divided state of being—partly grounded in reality and partly immersed in memories and emotions. The pier, a stable structure, contrasts with the fluidity of the water, highlighting the tension between stability and the ever-changing nature of feelings.

In the moment of communion with the memory, the speaker experiences a sense of disorientation: "and in the pleasure of that communion / I lose track." This line captures the transient joy of reconnecting with the memory, which is so engrossing that the speaker loses awareness of time and surroundings. However, this communion is fleeting, as indicated by the next lines: "the moon I watch goes down, the / tide swings you away before / I know I'm / alone again long since."

The moon’s descent and the retreating tide symbolize the inevitable passage of time and the recurring cycle of presence and absence. The realization of being alone again, "long since," underscores the enduring nature of this solitude, even as moments of connection briefly interrupt it.

Levertov concludes with a powerful image of desolation and decay: "mud sucking at gray and black / timbers of me, / a light growth of green dreams drying." The "mud sucking" at the timbers conveys a sense of being weighed down and eroded by time and sorrow. The "light growth of green dreams drying" suggests that even the dreams and hopes that once brought life are now withering away, unable to thrive in the current state of desolation.

"Losing Track" is a meditation on the persistence of memory and the enduring impact of loss. Through her evocative imagery and contemplative tone, Levertov captures the complex interplay between presence and absence, stability and fluidity, joy and sorrow. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loss and the ways in which memories continue to shape and influence their lives.

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