Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s "Song for Ishtar" is a vivid and primal exploration of desire, transformation, and the connection between the human and the divine. Through the use of earthy and celestial imagery, Levertov invokes the ancient goddess Ishtar, a symbol of fertility, love, and war, to delve into the visceral and ecstatic experience of becoming one with the natural and cosmic forces.

The poem opens with a striking metaphor: "The moon is a sow / and grunts in my throat." This image immediately sets a tone of raw, animalistic energy, linking the celestial body of the moon to a terrestrial, maternal figure. The moon, often associated with feminine power and mysticism, is here portrayed as a sow, emphasizing its nurturing yet primal aspect. The "grunts in my throat" suggest a deep, physical connection between the speaker and this lunar force, as if the moon's presence is internalized and vocalized through the speaker’s body.

Levertov continues with the imagery of illumination and transformation: "Her great shining shines through me / so the mud of my hollow gleams / and breaks in silver bubbles." The "great shining" of the moon permeates the speaker, transforming the "mud of my hollow" into something radiant and beautiful. This juxtaposition of mud and silver bubbles suggests a process of alchemical change, where the mundane and base elements of existence are transmuted into something precious and luminous through the influence of the moon.

The identification with the moon deepens: "She is a sow / and I a pig and a poet." By declaring herself both a pig and a poet, the speaker embraces her earthy, animalistic nature as well as her creative, expressive identity. This duality acknowledges the coexistence of the primal and the intellectual, suggesting that true poetic inspiration arises from an embrace of both aspects.

The poem takes a turn towards a more dynamic interaction: "When she opens her white / lips to devour me I bite back / and laughter rocks the moon." This encounter with the moon is not passive but reciprocal and playful. The act of biting back indicates resistance and engagement, a mutual acknowledgment of power. The resulting laughter rocking the moon suggests a joyous and symbiotic relationship, where the boundaries between the divine and the human blur in a moment of shared ecstasy.

In the final lines, Levertov delves into the depths of desire: "In the black of desire / we rock and grunt, grunt and / shine." The "black of desire" evokes a sense of mystery and intensity, a place where primal instincts and passions are fully expressed. The repeated "grunt and shine" encapsulates the essence of this interaction—earthy, physical sounds paired with radiant, celestial light. This rhythmic rocking and grunting convey a sense of rhythmic unity, a dance of cosmic and corporeal forces intertwined.

"Song for Ishtar" by Denise Levertov is a powerful meditation on the interconnectedness of the human and the divine, the earthly and the celestial. Through her vivid imagery and evocative language, Levertov captures the essence of primal desire and creative transformation, celebrating the raw, unfiltered experience of communion with the natural and cosmic forces embodied by the goddess Ishtar. The poem invites readers to embrace their own dual nature, recognizing the beauty and power that arise from the interplay of the primal and the poetic.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...