Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "The Cat as Cat" is an exploration of the authenticity of experiences and relationships, focusing on the inherent value of seeing things as they are rather than imposing metaphors or meanings upon them. The poem centers around the speaker’s interaction with a cat, celebrating the cat’s presence and its refusal to be anything other than itself.

The poem opens with a vivid, intimate image: "The cat on my bosom sleeping and purring / — fur-petalled chrysanthemum, squirrel-killer —." This description captures both the softness and the predatory nature of the cat, juxtaposing the gentle act of sleeping and purring with the cat’s more aggressive, natural behavior. The metaphor "fur-petalled chrysanthemum" evokes a sense of beauty and delicacy, while "squirrel-killer" reminds us of the cat’s instinctual role as a hunter.

Levertov then asserts that the cat "is a metaphor only if I force him to be one," challenging the tendency to impose symbolic meanings on natural phenomena. This line underscores the importance of allowing the cat to exist as it is, without projecting human interpretations or metaphors onto it. The speaker acknowledges the temptation to look "too long in his pale, fond, dilating, contracting eyes," which might lead to such projections, but ultimately recognizes that the cat’s eyes "reject mirrors, refuse to observe what bides stockstill." This suggests that the cat is uninterested in self-reflection or static contemplation, embodying a pure, unmediated existence.

The poem continues by describing the cat’s physical presence: "Likewise / flex and reflex of claws gently pricking through sweater to skin gently sustains their own tune not mine." This imagery emphasizes the cat’s independent rhythm and behavior, which exist separate from the speaker’s influence or control. The tactile experience of the cat’s claws "gently pricking" the speaker’s skin highlights a connection that is both physical and immediate, yet respectful of the cat’s autonomy.

Levertov concludes with a profound statement of mutual recognition and respect: "I-Thou, cat, I-Thou." This phrase, borrowing from Martin Buber’s philosophy of dialogical relationships, emphasizes the direct and personal relationship between the speaker and the cat. "I-Thou" signifies a relationship of mutual presence and recognition, where each being is acknowledged in their fullness without being reduced to an object or a metaphor.

"The Cat as Cat" is a meditation on the authenticity of relationships and the value of perceiving beings and experiences in their own right. Levertov’s focus on the cat’s natural behaviors and her resistance to imposing metaphors underscores a respect for the intrinsic nature of the cat. Through her intimate and thoughtful depiction, Levertov invites readers to appreciate the genuine presence of the other, whether human or animal, and to cultivate relationships based on mutual recognition and respect.

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