Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "The Gaze Salutes Lyonel Feininger While Crossing the New Jersey Wastelands" presents a striking landscape, juxtaposing natural beauty with industrial desolation. This poem captures the essence of a scene that is both polluted and delicate, transforming an otherwise bleak setting into a subject of contemplation and unexpected aesthetic value.

Levertov begins by describing the polluted stretches of grass and weeds in olive-green, a color that conveys both life and decay. The choice of "olive-green" suggests resilience amidst adversity, as olive trees are often symbols of endurance. This color imagery sets the tone for the entire poem, where beauty is found in unexpected places. The "small meres and sloughs dark with the darkness of smoked glass" further this contrast, presenting water bodies that are tainted yet hold a mysterious allure. The phrase "dark with the darkness of smoked glass" employs a simile that conjures an image of transparency marred by soot, hinting at the obscured purity beneath the pollution.

The "gray air at intervals slashed with rust-red uprights" introduces the industrial elements into the landscape. The rust-red uprights, likely cranes or derricks, are described with a vividness that brings them to life against the gray backdrop. The use of "slashed" implies a violent intrusion of industrial structures into the natural environment, yet there is an appreciation for their stark presence. This duality reflects the influence of Lyonel Feininger, whose work often melds architectural precision with a sense of ethereal beauty. Feininger, a German-American painter and caricaturist associated with the Bauhaus movement, was known for his depictions of urban and architectural scenes that blend geometric abstraction with a sense of lyrical beauty.

Levertov then shifts the focus to the horizon, described as "otherwise indeterminate," which evokes a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity. This indeterminate horizon is suddenly brought into sharp relief by the "spidery definition of viaducts and arched bridges." The term "spidery" suggests fragility and intricacy, an architectural marvel rendered in delicate lines, reminiscent of Feininger's "silverpoint" technique, known for its fine detail and subtlety. These structures, pale yet clear, provide a moment of clarity within the murky setting, a testament to human ingenuity that is both intrusive and beautiful.

Structurally, the poem is composed of a single sentence spread over multiple lines, creating a fluid and continuous observation. This lack of traditional punctuation allows the reader's gaze to move seamlessly across the scene, much like a traveler viewing the landscape from a moving vehicle. The enjambment mirrors the uninterrupted, expansive nature of the wasteland, reinforcing the sense of desolation tempered by moments of beauty.

Levertov's style in this poem is characterized by precise imagery and a keen observation of detail. Her language is both descriptive and evocative, transforming a mundane and polluted landscape into a site of artistic reflection. The poem's free verse form supports this fluidity of thought, allowing the poet to capture fleeting impressions without the constraints of a rigid structure.

In "The Gaze Salutes Lyonel Feininger While Crossing the New Jersey Wastelands," Levertov pays homage to Feininger's ability to find beauty in the industrial and the desolate. She captures the essence of a landscape that is at once marred by pollution and industrialization yet possesses an inherent delicacy. Through her careful attention to color, light, and form, Levertov elevates a seemingly bleak scene into a work of art, much like Feininger's own creations. This poem invites readers to reconsider their perceptions of beauty and to find value in the overlooked and the ordinary.

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