Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "The Gypsy’s Window" vividly captures the blend of reality and artifice, portraying a scene that oscillates between the everyday and the extraordinary. Through her use of rich imagery and contrasting characters, Levertov explores themes of appearance, perception, and the underlying passion that infuses both life and art.

The poem begins with a description of the scene as a stage: "It seems a stage backed by imaginations of velvet, cotton, satin, loops and stripes." This theatrical imagery sets the tone for the entire poem, suggesting that what is viewed through the gypsy's window is a carefully crafted tableau, a performance of sorts. The various fabrics and patterns evoke a sense of richness and texture, adding depth to the visual scene.

Levertov then moves to the details within this stage-like setting: "A lovely unconcern scattered the trivial plates, the rosaries / and centered a narrownecked dark vase, unopened yellow and pink paper roses, a luxury of open red paper roses." The phrase "lovely unconcern" suggests a casual yet intentional arrangement of objects, giving a sense of effortless beauty. The trivial plates and rosaries hint at everyday life and spirituality, while the paper roses, both unopened and luxuriously open, symbolize both potential and full-blown passion. The contrast between the unopened and open roses mirrors the tension between restraint and expression.

The scene shifts to the characters within the window: "Watching the trucks go by, from stiff chairs behind the window show, an old bandanna'd brutal dignified woman, a young beautiful woman her mouth a huge contemptuous rose." The two women present a striking juxtaposition. The older woman, with her bandanna and dignified brutality, embodies resilience and perhaps a hard-won wisdom. In contrast, the young woman's beauty and her "huge contemptuous rose" of a mouth convey a sense of youthful defiance and disdain. The rose, a recurring motif in the poem, here symbolizes her bold and unrestrained passion.

Levertov describes the "courage of natural rhetoric" that "tosses to dusty Hudson St. the chance of poetry, a chance poetry gives passion to the roses." This line suggests that the raw, unfiltered expressions of life—the natural rhetoric—bring a spontaneous, poetic quality to the mundane surroundings. The dusty Hudson Street, an ordinary, perhaps grimy part of the city, is transformed by the presence of this window and its contents. The chance for poetry in everyday life is made manifest in the passion symbolized by the roses.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the nature of reality and artifice: "the roses in the gypsy's window in a blue vase, look real, as unreal as real roses." This final observation blurs the lines between what is real and what is artifice. The roses, although made of paper, possess a vividness and vitality that makes them seem real. Conversely, real roses can sometimes appear so perfect or intense that they seem unreal. This duality emphasizes the complexity of perception and the way art can capture and intensify reality.

"The Gypsy’s Window" by Denise Levertov is a richly layered poem that invites readers to look beyond the surface and appreciate the interplay between reality and artifice. Through her evocative imagery and nuanced character portrayals, Levertov explores how ordinary scenes can be infused with passion and poetic beauty. The poem celebrates the transformative power of art and the enduring presence of beauty and emotion in everyday life.

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