Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "Intrusion" is a profound exploration of transformation, loss, and the enduring nature of longing and compassion. Through stark and evocative imagery, Levertov delves into themes of regeneration and the persistence of emotional needs despite physical change.

The poem opens with a striking and almost surreal image: "After I had cut off my hands / and grown new ones." This act of severing and regrowth symbolizes a radical transformation, suggesting a significant shift in identity or capability. The cutting off of hands could represent a rejection or abandonment of a former self, while the growing of new ones signifies renewal and the possibility of change. The new hands, however, inherit the longings of the old: "something my former hands had longed for / came and asked to be rocked." This line implies that desires and emotional needs persist even through profound personal change. The act of rocking suggests a need for comfort, nurturing, and soothing—basic human needs that transcend physical alterations.

The poem continues with a parallel transformation involving the eyes: "After my plucked out eyes / had withered, and new ones grown." The image of plucking out eyes is intense and suggests a deliberate attempt to eradicate a former way of seeing or perceiving the world. The withering of the old eyes and the growth of new ones further emphasize the theme of renewal. Yet, as with the hands, the emotional experiences associated with the former eyes remain: "something my former eyes had wept for / came asking to be pitied." The new eyes inherit the grief and compassion of the old, indicating that emotional responses to past experiences continue to influence the present self.

Levertov’s use of stark, almost violent imagery to depict transformation underscores the intensity of the changes being described. The acts of cutting off hands and plucking out eyes suggest a painful and deliberate process of shedding the past. However, the regrowth of these organs indicates resilience and the possibility of renewal. Despite these changes, the persistence of old longings and griefs highlights the enduring nature of emotional needs.

The structure of the poem, with its concise and impactful lines, mirrors the abrupt and decisive nature of the transformations described. The repetition of the structure in both stanzas reinforces the parallel between the experiences of the hands and the eyes, suggesting a comprehensive renewal of the self.

"Intrusion" invites readers to consider the complexities of personal transformation. While physical or external changes can be drastic and seemingly complete, the emotional and psychological residues of past experiences continue to shape the present. The poem speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring nature of our deepest longings and griefs. Even as we undergo significant changes, the fundamental aspects of our humanity—our need for comfort, our capacity for longing, and our ability to empathize—remain constant.

Levertov’s language is both precise and evocative, creating vivid images that resonate deeply with the reader. The surreal quality of the transformations described enhances the poem's impact, making it a compelling meditation on the nature of change and the persistence of the human soul's needs. The poem ultimately suggests that while we may strive to reinvent ourselves, we are invariably connected to our past selves through the emotional legacies we carry forward.

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