Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's poem "The Departure" evokes a sense of urgency and surrealism, blending everyday objects with grand elements of nature to create a vivid and almost whimsical scene. Through this blend, Levertov explores themes of preservation, memory, and the complexities of leaving behind the familiar.

The poem opens with a direct and somewhat anxious question: "Have you got the moon safe?" This line immediately sets a surreal tone, treating the moon as an object that can be owned and secured. The concern for the moon's safety introduces a sense of vulnerability and preciousness associated with this celestial body, which typically symbolizes guidance, constancy, and mystery.

Levertov continues with a practical command: "Please, tie those strings a little tighter." The strings, likely tied to secure the moon, symbolize the fragile connection between the speaker and these essential elements. This act of tying suggests an attempt to control and safeguard something inherently untouchable and vast, underscoring a sense of desperation and care.

The poem then shifts to a more tangible item: "This loaf, push it down further the light is crushing it-such a baguette golden brown and so white inside you don't see every day nowadays." The loaf of bread, described in such vivid and affectionate detail, represents sustenance, comfort, and perhaps nostalgia. The light "crushing" the loaf adds to the surreal quality, implying that even the natural elements can threaten the simple, essential things in life. The rarity of such a perfect loaf highlights the longing for simpler, better times or the preservation of valuable, everyday moments.

Levertov then brings in the ocean: "And for god's sake don't let's leave in the end without the ocean!" This line expresses an intense need to hold onto the vast, encompassing presence of the ocean, which symbolizes life, depth, and continuity. The ocean, like the moon, is something immense and vital, and the speaker's insistence on not leaving it behind underscores its importance.

The poem's climax, "Put it in there among the shoes, and tie the moon on behind. It's time!" combines the mundane with the majestic. Placing the ocean "among the shoes" merges the everyday with the extraordinary, suggesting a journey where both the practical and the profound must be preserved. Tying the moon on behind as if it were luggage adds a whimsical, yet poignant, touch, emphasizing the human desire to keep hold of the sublime in the face of departure.

"The Departure" by Denise Levertov captures the poignancy of leaving behind the familiar and the cherished. Through its surreal imagery and heartfelt commands, the poem speaks to the deep human need to preserve the elements that give life meaning and to carry these symbols of comfort and wonder into the unknown future. Levertov’s blending of the ordinary with the extraordinary creates a powerful meditation on memory, loss, and the desire to hold onto what matters most.

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