Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "Something More" is a reflective exploration of memory, perception, and the interplay between reality and imagination. The poem delves into how the human mind transforms ordinary experiences and places into something more vivid and enchanting, without entirely losing touch with reality.

The poem begins with a recollection of the past: "Sometimes I'd make of Valentines, long ago, a wilder place than it was." This line sets the stage for a discussion on how memory and imagination can embellish and elevate everyday scenes. The specific reference to "Valentines" and the "sluice where a man-made lake spilled into Cranbrook" introduces a childhood memory that the speaker perceives with a heightened sense of wonder: "perceived as a cascade huge in mesmeric power." This transformation of a simple sluice into a powerful cascade illustrates the speaker's ability to see beyond the ordinary.

The act of leaning on the "rustic" fence and gazing into an "almost-trance" suggests a deep engagement with the memory, allowing the speaker to be transported into a more profound experience. This childhood habit of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary persists into later life: "And now, leaving my sixth decade, I attribute sometimes the freedom and shy charm of mountain rills in Wales to the tiny stream that playfully runs past the ponds at the hatchery." Here, the speaker draws a parallel between the majestic mountain streams of Wales and a modest stream near a hatchery, showing how perception continues to be enriched by imagination.

Levertov acknowledges the potential pitfall of this habit: "Viciously sentimental, this habit would be, of vesting the commonplace in robes of glory if I deceived myself a fraction more." The speaker is aware of the danger of allowing imagination to entirely overshadow reality, risking sentimentality and self-deception. However, she maintains a balance: "But even in childhood I knew the difference, saw with a double vision." This "double vision" refers to the ability to see both the reality and the enhanced, imaginative version of it simultaneously.

The poem further explores the benefits of this dual perception: "And I've found the custom gives, in time, new spirit to fact—or restores it." By imbuing everyday scenes with a sense of wonder, the speaker finds that reality itself is enriched and revitalized. "Places reveal, as it were, their longings. Inherent dreams." This line suggests that places have their own hidden potential and desires, which can be uncovered through a willing and imaginative gaze.

The final lines of the poem encapsulate the core message: "With the will to see / more than is there, one comes, at moments, to perceive the more that there is: from behind gray curtains of low expectation it is drawn forth, resplendent." Levertov emphasizes the importance of approaching the world with an open and imaginative mindset, which allows one to see beyond surface appearances and uncover deeper beauty and significance.

In summary, "Something More" by Denise Levertov is a thoughtful meditation on the power of imagination to transform and enrich reality. Through vivid recollections and introspective commentary, Levertov explores the balance between seeing the world as it is and as it could be. The poem invites readers to embrace a dual vision that enhances their perception of the world, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary and drawing forth the inherent beauty that lies just beyond the veil of everyday life.

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