Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's poem "This Day" poignantly captures a moment of spiritual and existential contemplation. Through the use of stark imagery and symbolic references, Levertov delves into themes of divinity, the material world, and the simplicity of human needs.

The poem begins with the line, "Dry wafer, sour wine," immediately invoking the Eucharist, the Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper. These elements traditionally symbolize the body and blood of Christ, meant to offer spiritual nourishment and salvation. However, the descriptors "dry" and "sour" suggest a sense of desolation or disappointment, indicating that the expected spiritual fulfillment is lacking.

"This day I see / God's in the dust, not sifted out from confusion." Here, Levertov presents a vision of divinity that is intertwined with the mundane and chaotic aspects of existence. Instead of being elevated and separate from the messiness of the world, God is depicted as being present within it, in the "dust." This line suggests a form of spiritual insight that recognizes the sacred in the everyday and the humble, rejecting the notion that divinity must be isolated from the complexities and imperfections of life.

Repeating the initial Eucharistic imagery, Levertov emphasizes the tangible, sensory experience of faith: "Dry wafer, / sour wine." This repetition reinforces the earlier impression of spiritual dissatisfaction, while also grounding the reader in the physicality of religious practice.

The poem then shifts to a broader contemplation of the world: "this day I see the world, a word intricately incarnate, offers - raveled, honeycombed, veined, stained." This description presents the world itself as a kind of sacred text, "a word intricately incarnate." The adjectives "raveled, honeycombed, veined, stained" evoke a sense of complexity and beauty, as well as imperfection. The world is portrayed as a rich, multifaceted creation that, despite its flaws, holds profound significance and value.

Levertov continues with an enumeration of simple, essential elements: "what hunger craves, a sorrel grass, a crust, water, salt." These basic, earthy items—sorrel grass, a crust of bread, water, and salt—represent fundamental sustenance. They are the things that meet the most basic human needs, symbolizing a return to simplicity and the recognition that true nourishment, both physical and spiritual, often comes from the most unassuming sources.

"This Day" ultimately presents a vision of spirituality that finds divinity within the ordinary and the humble. Levertov's use of Eucharistic imagery juxtaposed with elemental, earthly details invites readers to see the sacred in the everyday and to appreciate the inherent value and beauty of the world as it is. The poem suggests that spiritual fulfillment and insight can be found not in grand, transcendent experiences, but in the simple, tangible realities of life. Through her evocative language and profound reflections, Levertov encourages a deeper, more grounded approach to spirituality, one that embraces the complexity and imperfections of the material world.

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