Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "Tenebrae (Fall of 1967)" paints a stark picture of a society engulfed in the Vietnam War, juxtaposed with the seemingly oblivious or indifferent daily activities of its citizens. Through vivid imagery and a tone of solemnity, Levertov explores themes of war, consumerism, and the disconnect between the reality of conflict and the everyday lives of people.

The poem opens with a heavy, repetitive emphasis on the weight of the times: "Heavy, heavy, heavy, hand and heart. / We are at war, / bitterly, bitterly at war." The repetition of "heavy" and "bitterly" underscores the pervasive sense of sorrow and burden that the war imposes on both the personal and collective psyche. This sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of a society at odds with itself, internally burdened by the external conflict.

Levertov then contrasts this with the buzzing activity of commerce: "And the buying and selling / buzzes at our heads, a swarm / of busy flies, a kind of innocence." The comparison to flies suggests a mindless, incessant activity that is disconnected from the gravity of the war. This "kind of innocence" is portrayed as a superficial, almost naive engagement with consumerism, blinding people to the harsh realities around them.

The poem continues with images of material excess and superficiality: "Gowns of gold sequins are fitted, / sharp-glinting. What harsh rustlings / of silver moiré there are, / to remind me of shrapnel splinters." The opulence of gold sequins and silver moiré fabric, used in fashion and weddings, is starkly contrasted with the imagery of war, such as "shrapnel splinters." This juxtaposition serves to highlight the dissonance between the frivolity of high society and the brutality of war.

Levertov further critiques the superficiality of social rituals: "And weddings are held in full solemnity / not of desire but of etiquette, / the nuptial pomp of starched lace; / a grim innocence." The weddings are described as more about adhering to social norms than genuine desire, reflecting a society more concerned with appearances than substance. The phrase "grim innocence" encapsulates the disquieting contrast between the formal solemnity of these rituals and the underlying ignorance or willful blindness to the ongoing war.

The poem shifts to a more intimate, nostalgic scene of family life: "And picnic parties return from the beaches / burning with stored sun in the dusk; / children promised a TV show when they get home / fall asleep in the backs of a million station wagons, / sand in their hair, the sound of waves / quietly persistent at their ears." This serene, almost idyllic image of families returning from a day at the beach is tinged with an unsettling undertone. The "quietly persistent" sound of waves at the children’s ears mirrors the ignored persistence of the war’s presence.

The parents’ nightly routine is depicted as a cycle of forgetting and planning: "Their parents at night / dream and forget their dreams. / They wake in the dark / and make plans. Their sequin plans / glitter into tomorrow." The "sequin plans" symbolize the shiny but ultimately hollow ambitions that glitter superficially without addressing deeper issues. The neon signs flashing intentions into the future further emphasize the illusory nature of these plans.

The poem concludes with a return to the theme of inattention: "And at their ears the sound / of the war. They are / not listening, not listening." The repetition of "not listening" underscores the deliberate ignorance or disconnection from the reality of the war, despite its omnipresence.

"Tenebrae (Fall of 1967)" is a powerful critique of the disconnect between the everyday lives of people and the brutal reality of war. Levertov’s use of vivid imagery and stark contrasts effectively conveys the moral and emotional dissonance of a society that continues with its superficial routines while ignoring the pervasive impact of conflict. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of awareness and the dangers of complacency.

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