Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "Decipherings" is a richly layered poem dedicated to the poet Guillevic, exploring themes of balance, transformation, creation, and the intricate connections that define human experience. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Levertov delves into the processes of understanding and interpreting the complexities of life.

The poem opens with a reflection on balance and its loss: "When I lose my center of gravity I can't fly: / levitation's a stone / cast straight as a lark to fall plumb and rebound." This metaphor highlights the importance of maintaining equilibrium. The comparison of levitation to a stone falling and rebounding emphasizes the inevitability of grounding after a flight, suggesting a cyclical nature of rising and falling, balance and imbalance.

In the second stanza, Levertov uses the image of a wheel to convey transformation and inner essence: "Half a wheel's a rising sun: without spokes, an arch: / half a loaf reveals / the inner wheat: leavened transubstantiation." The rising sun and arch symbolize potential and structure, while the half loaf revealing inner wheat signifies the essence and transformative process (leavening) within. "Transubstantiation" references the religious transformation of bread and wine, indicating a profound change from ordinary to extraordinary.

The third stanza shifts to a deeply personal and biological theme: "A child / grows in one's body, pushes out and breaks off: nerves / denying their non-existence twist and pinch long after: / after that otherness floats far, thistledown engine, / up and over horizon's ramparts." This passage describes the physical and emotional experience of childbirth and the enduring connection between parent and child. The "thistledown engine" metaphor captures the delicate, yet powerful, departure of the child, emphasizing the ongoing, albeit changed, connection across distance.

In the final stanza, Levertov reflects on the formation and reformation of thoughts and emotions: "Felt life / grows in one's mind: each semblance / forms and reforms cloudy links with the next / and the next: chimes and gamelan gongs / resound: / pondering, / picking the tesserae, blue or perhaps vermilion, what one aches for is the mosaic music makes in one's ears / transformed." Here, "felt life" refers to the internal, emotional experiences that continually reshape and connect in the mind. The references to chimes and gamelan gongs evoke a musical and harmonious interplay of thoughts. The "tesserae," or small tiles used in mosaics, symbolize individual experiences and memories that form a larger, cohesive picture. The desire for "the mosaic music makes in one's ears / transformed" underscores the yearning for a deeper understanding and coherence in life's experiences.

In summary, "Decipherings" by Denise Levertov is a contemplative poem that explores the themes of balance, transformation, creation, and the interconnectedness of experiences. Through rich imagery and metaphor, Levertov invites readers to reflect on the processes of interpreting and understanding the complexities of life, emphasizing the intricate and transformative nature of human existence.

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