Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s "Roast Potatoes" is a vivid recollection of the urban landscape and community interactions surrounding the Wholesale Produce Market before it moved to the Bronx. Through her detailed and evocative imagery, Levertov captures the vibrant, yet often harsh realities of life around the market, offering a nostalgic yet critical lens on the past.

The poem begins by setting the scene: "Before the Wholesale Produce Market moved to the Bronx, what wild Arabian scenes there'd be each night across from our 5th floor window." This opening line immediately transports the reader to a specific time and place, suggesting a bustling, almost exotic atmosphere. The comparison to "wild Arabian scenes" underlines the chaotic and lively nature of the market at night.

Levertov describes the market with a sensory richness: "the trucks arriving from all over as if at a caravanserai under the weird orange-bright streetlights / (or was it the canvas awnings that were orange, sheltering the carrots, the actual oranges ...)." This description blurs the lines between reality and memory, enhancing the vividness of the market scene with its "Great mounds of fruit, mountain ranges of vegetables spread in the stalls." The bustling activity of unloading and the retail trucks rolling up to bargain and buy till dawn paints a picture of continuous movement and commerce.

The poem also touches on the socioeconomic aspects of the market, highlighting the presence of "Unemployed men, casual labor, hung around, waiting for clean-up jobs; some were glad to get some bruised produce if no work." This line emphasizes the market's role not just in commerce but as a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet. The mention of the "Catholic Worker pickup" collecting unsold produce reflects a sense of community and charity amidst the economic struggles.

Levertov contrasts the market scenes with the broader context of urban poverty in the '60s: "there was the Bowery, yes, and ordinary urban winos, but not throngs of homeless men / and hardly ever a homeless woman except for those you'd see down at Maryhouse or sometimes...in the waiting room at Grand Central." This comparison highlights the evolving nature of homelessness and urban poverty, noting the increasing visibility and prevalence of homelessness over time.

The poem then focuses on the "old fashioned hobos" who frequented the market, drawing attention to their resourcefulness and resilience: "they'd build fires in old metal barrels and sit round them on upturned crates roasting fallen potatoes they'd salvaged." This image of men gathering around makeshift fires, cooking what they could scavenge, evokes a sense of camaraderie and survival. Levertov’s depiction is both tender and respectful, acknowledging their unique ways of making do.

In the concluding lines, Levertov urges a mindful presence: "Try to acknowledge the next / song in its body-halo of flames as utterly present, as now or never." This call to mindfulness and presence underscores the transient and precious nature of these moments. The "body-halo of flames" symbolizes the warmth and fleeting beauty of human connection and survival in harsh conditions.

"Roast Potatoes" is a poignant and richly detailed poem that captures a specific historical moment and place. Through her evocative imagery and reflective tone, Levertov highlights the vibrancy, resilience, and complexity of life around the Wholesale Produce Market. The poem serves as a tribute to the people who lived and worked in that space, urging readers to recognize and honor the presence and humanity in these everyday scenes.

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