Denise Levertov: Poetic Comparison
As a contributor to the world of post-modern poetry, Denise Levertov uses her knowledge of the rules of poetry to bend and twist and break them. In this way, her writing bears a close connection to that of Charles Wright, another poet whose work has continued into the twenty-first century. Looking at samples of both poets, a reader will notice that lines are stretched or dropped or split in ways that would shock writers of a more traditional era, yet they use these experimental tactics to develop multiple dimensions of meaning within each poem. While their styles are by no means identical, they share a characteristic mentality of risk taking that is widely seen in post-modern writing.
Furthermore, Levertov and Wright share a similar ability to humanize elements of nature in order to develop their meaning. In a way, they are able to display stark realism and abstract idealism simultaneously. Use of natural elements along side bold, thought provoking, and often confusing, statements forces the reader to pause, go back, and hunt through the poem to find the intended message. Even when you think you've come to a conclusion their is an uncertainty that never quite goes away, perhaps because they leave holes here and there to leave room for individual interpretation. On a whole, Levertov's writing was a little easier to understand than Wright's. Each of her poems, while often abstract, seemed to follow a common theme throughout and generally had a decisive finish. Although Wright's work perseverates on a few key themes, it is much more scattered and is often difficult to follow.
In conclusion, post-modern poetry, including the work of Denise Levertov, is filled with unexpected manipulation of language that can lead to unexpected meaning.
As a contributor to the world of post-modern poetry, Denise Levertov uses her knowledge of the rules of poetry to bend and twist and break them. In this way, her writing bears a close connection to that of Charles Wright, another poet whose work has continued into the twenty-first century. Looking at samples of both poets, a reader will notice that lines are stretched or dropped or split in ways that would shock writers of a more traditional era, yet they use these experimental tactics to develop multiple dimensions of meaning within each poem. While their styles are by no means identical, they share a characteristic mentality of risk taking that is widely seen in post-modern writing.
Furthermore, Levertov and Wright share a similar ability to humanize elements of nature in order to develop their meaning. In a way, they are able to display stark realism and abstract idealism simultaneously. Use of natural elements along side bold, thought provoking, and often confusing, statements forces the reader to pause, go back, and hunt through the poem to find the intended message. Even when you think you've come to a conclusion their is an uncertainty that never quite goes away, perhaps because they leave holes here and there to leave room for individual interpretation. On a whole, Levertov's writing was a little easier to understand than Wright's. Each of her poems, while often abstract, seemed to follow a common theme throughout and generally had a decisive finish. Although Wright's work perseverates on a few key themes, it is much more scattered and is often difficult to follow.
In conclusion, post-modern poetry, including the work of Denise Levertov, is filled with unexpected manipulation of language that can lead to unexpected meaning.
Read Denise Levertov at Poetry Foundation
|
|
J. Patrick Lewis and Children's Poetry
Local resident of Westerville, Ohio, J Patrick Lewis is a
prominent figure in the realm of Children's Poetry. Throughout his enduring career, he has explored baseball, mosquitoes and Looziana. He writes with humor and and a love of language that he truly seems eager to demonstrate to his audience. I think this really comes through in the clip to the right. As he reads his poem and talks about poetry month, his effort to engage listeners is clear, as is his own love for subject. By reaching out to kids with poetry that they find funny or clever, he is trying to pass on a bit of that love. Lewis was the Children's poet Laureate from 2011-2013, following in the footsteps of Jack Prelutsky. Both men give substance and meaning to the subjects that might seem frivolous to the serious writer, but they remind us of how beautiful the simple life of a child can be. |
|