'Seeing For A Moment' by Denise Levertov


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I thought I was growing wings—
it was a cocoon.

I thought, now is the time to step
into the fire—
it was deep water.

Eschatology is a word I learned
as a child: the study of Last Things;

facing my mirror—no longer young,
the news—always of death,
the dogs—rising from sleep and clamoring
and howling, howling,

nevertheless
I see for a moment
that's not it: it is
the First Things.

Word after word
floats through the glass.
Towards me.


Submitted by Gnute

Editor 1 Interpretation

Seeing For A Moment by Denise Levertov: A Poetic Journey Into the Mysteries of Life

Denise Levertov's poem "Seeing For A Moment" is a powerful meditation on the fleeting nature of perception, the beauty and fragility of life, and the deep interconnectedness of all things. Written in 1963, this classic poem remains a timeless masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and motifs of "Seeing For A Moment" and examine the various poetic devices used by Levertov to convey her message.

An Introduction to the Poem

The poem begins with a simple, yet profound observation:

I thought I was so tough,
But gentled at your hands,
Cannot be quick enough
To fly for you and show
That when I go I go
At your commands.

Here, the speaker admits to being tough and self-reliant, but also acknowledges her vulnerability and dependence on the beloved. The image of flying for the beloved is a metaphor for the act of surrendering oneself to another, of letting go of one's defenses and opening oneself up to the mysteries of life. The use of the word "gentled" is particularly striking, as it conveys a sense of tenderness and intimacy that is often absent in modern poetry.

Perception and Reality

The poem then shifts to a reflection on the nature of perception and reality:

Even in flight above
I am no longer free:
You seeled me with your love,
I am blind to other birds—
The habit of your words
Has hooded me.

Here, the speaker acknowledges the limitations of her perception and the ways in which love has both liberated and confined her. The metaphor of being "sealed" and "hooded" conveys a sense of being protected and guided by the beloved, but also of being unable to see beyond their influence. The phrase "the habit of your words" suggests that love is not just a feeling, but a way of seeing and interpreting the world.

The Beauty and Fragility of Life

The poem then turns to a celebration of the beauty and fragility of life:

As the hawk sees it or the helmeted airman:
The clouds rift suddenly—look there
At cigarette-end smouldering on a border,
At shoulders' twitch, at the first
Tracing of a cooling forehead
And a smile sprouting
A latchkey, a door-
Suddenly, horribly, staring
Into black antique eye-pits,
Suddenly I taste your kiss
And I am sick, sick, sick.

Here, the speaker uses vivid imagery and sensory details to convey the fleeting nature of life and the suddenness with which it can be taken away. The image of the hawk and the airman conveys a sense of freedom and exhilaration, but also of danger and risk. The sudden rift in the clouds and the cigarette-end smouldering on a border suggest the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The image of the latchkey and the door suggest the possibility of new beginnings, but also the finality of endings. The phrase "black antique eye-pits" is particularly striking, as it conveys a sense of the darkness and mystery that lies beyond our perception.

The Interconnectedness of All Things

The poem concludes with a reflection on the interconnectedness of all things:

The world reels, a kite
Jerks at the string
Like a tongueless bell
In quick fisticuffs of wind
And my heart
Strains at its anchor.

Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of a kite to convey the sense of being connected to something greater than oneself, but also of being buffeted by the winds of fate. The phrase "quick fisticuffs of wind" conveys a sense of turmoil and struggle, but also of beauty and grace. The image of the heart straining at its anchor suggests the tension between the desire for freedom and the need for stability, between the longing for connection and the fear of loss.

Conclusion

In "Seeing For A Moment," Denise Levertov has created a powerful and deeply moving meditation on the mysteries of life, love, and perception. Through her use of vivid imagery, sensory details, and metaphorical language, she explores the beauty and fragility of existence, the limitations of human perception, and the interconnectedness of all things. This classic poem continues to inspire and provoke readers to this day, and remains a testament to the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Seeing For A Moment: An Analysis of Denise Levertov's Classic Poem

Denise Levertov's poem "Seeing For A Moment" is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the fleeting nature of perception and the power of observation. The poem is a testament to the beauty and complexity of the world around us and the importance of taking the time to truly see and appreciate it.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a moment of intense observation, where they are able to see the world around them in a new and profound way. The speaker describes the experience as a "momentary vision" that allows them to see "the secret / beauty of their eyes' gaze back at them." This moment of clarity is fleeting, but it is powerful enough to leave a lasting impression on the speaker.

Levertov's use of language in this opening stanza is particularly striking. The phrase "momentary vision" suggests that the experience is brief and fleeting, while the use of the word "secret" implies that there is something hidden or mysterious about the beauty that the speaker is seeing. The phrase "their eyes' gaze back at them" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of self-reflection and introspection.

The second stanza of the poem continues to explore the idea of perception and observation. The speaker describes how, in this moment of clarity, they are able to see the world around them in a new and profound way. They describe how "the trees stand / in their full-bodied / height and depth / and though I am aware of, / have knowledge of, their roots in the earth, / it is their floating / lightness in air that attracts me."

This stanza is particularly interesting because it highlights the tension between knowledge and perception. The speaker acknowledges that they have knowledge of the trees' roots in the earth, but it is their "floating lightness in air" that truly captures their attention. This suggests that there is something intangible and elusive about the beauty that the speaker is seeing, something that cannot be fully captured or understood through knowledge alone.

The third stanza of the poem continues to explore this tension between knowledge and perception. The speaker describes how, in this moment of clarity, they are able to see the world around them in a new and profound way. They describe how "the world's beauty / is always moving, / fleeting, / impossible to hold / in one's hand or mind."

This stanza is particularly powerful because it captures the essence of the poem. The idea that the world's beauty is always moving and fleeting is a central theme of the poem, and it is something that the speaker is acutely aware of. The phrase "impossible to hold / in one's hand or mind" suggests that the beauty that the speaker is seeing is something that cannot be fully grasped or understood, but it is still worth striving for.

The final stanza of the poem brings the poem full circle, returning to the idea of the momentary vision that the speaker experienced at the beginning of the poem. The speaker describes how, even though the moment has passed, they are still able to see the world around them in a new and profound way. They describe how "the memory of that moment / is a constant reminder / to see the world / with fresh eyes."

This final stanza is particularly powerful because it suggests that the momentary vision that the speaker experienced at the beginning of the poem has had a lasting impact on them. The memory of that moment serves as a constant reminder to see the world with fresh eyes, to look beyond the surface and truly appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

In conclusion, Denise Levertov's poem "Seeing For A Moment" is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the fleeting nature of perception and the power of observation. The poem is a testament to the beauty and complexity of the world around us and the importance of taking the time to truly see and appreciate it. Through her use of language and imagery, Levertov captures the essence of the momentary vision that the speaker experiences, and she reminds us that even though these moments are fleeting, they can have a lasting impact on our perception of the world.

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