Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's poem "What My House Would Be Like If It Were a Person" anthropomorphizes a house into a mystical, protective, and deeply comforting creature. Through this imaginative transformation, Levertov explores themes of safety, intimacy, and the mysterious nature of the domestic space.

The poem opens with a direct statement that immediately sets the tone for the whimsical yet profound exploration: "This person would be an animal." This line prepares the reader for a series of vivid, transformative images that blur the lines between human, animal, and dwelling. The house, as an animal, is described as "large, at least as large / as a workhorse." The comparison to a workhorse suggests strength, reliability, and endurance—qualities we often seek in a home.

The next line, "It would chew cud, like cows, / having several stomachs," imbues the house-animal with a sense of contentment and thoroughness. The imagery of chewing cud evokes a slow, deliberate process of digestion and contemplation, symbolizing a place that thoroughly processes and integrates the experiences and emotions of its inhabitants.

Levertov further elaborates on the elusive nature of this house-animal: "No one could follow it / into the dense brush to witness / its mating habits. Hidden by fur, / its sex would be hard to determine." This mysteriousness underscores the private, almost sacred nature of the home. The dense brush and hidden sex suggest that some aspects of the house, like its most intimate functions and origins, remain inscrutable and protected from external scrutiny.

Despite its secretive nature, the house-animal is characterized as "a kind, amiable animal, / confiding as a chickadee." This juxtaposition of mystery and kindness creates a complex persona that is both unapproachable in its full depths and endearingly approachable in its everyday interactions. The chickadee, a small and friendly bird, symbolizes the house's capacity for gentle companionship and trust.

Levertov attributes "a high order" of intelligence to the house-animal, specifying that it is "neither human nor animal, elvish." This elvish intelligence suggests a magical, otherworldly quality, further enhancing the house's role as a place of enchantment and wonder. It purrs, a sound associated with comfort and contentment, yet this purring house subverts the usual relationship: "you would sit in its lap, / not it in yours." This inversion highlights the nurturing aspect of the house, which envelops and supports its inhabitants, offering a sense of being held and cared for.

In "What My House Would Be Like If It Were a Person," Denise Levertov crafts a rich, layered metaphor that reimagines the home as a living, breathing entity. Through this imaginative exercise, she captures the essence of what makes a house a sanctuary—a place of strength, mystery, gentleness, and magical intelligence. The poem invites readers to consider their own homes not just as physical structures, but as entities with their own personalities and capacities for providing comfort and security.

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