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"He stands
isolate in a bulletproof
witness-stand of glass,
a cage where we may view
ourselves...."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "During the Eichmann Trial." |
"Through the hollow globe, a ring
of frayed rusty scrapiron,
is it the sea that shines?
Is it a road at the world's edge?"
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "Six Variations." |
"I stand on a bridge of one span
and see this calm act, this gathering up
of life, of spring water
and the Muse gliding ..."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "The Well." |
"The awaited scream rises,
the shattering
of glass and the cracking
of bone
a polar tumult as when
black ice booms...."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "During the Eichmann Trial." |
"Ugly look, close to tears, on a man's face
hath compassion
no name for it?"
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "Skew Lines." |
"imploring pinkpalmed hand
twitching, autonomous,
hung from an ordinary
black arm
(the lights change,
it's gone)"
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "The Whisper." |
"I can turn from that slow embrace
to worship mortal, the summoned
god who has speech, who has wit
to wreathe all words, who laughs
wrapped in sad pelt and without hope of heaven...."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "Earth Psalm." |
"compassion
turns in on itself
biting its tongue, unable to cry out
or give it a name."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "Skew Lines." |
"... pushing
shadows of unknown
objects across and
away and
half across the
sidewalks, arhythmic."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "The Whisper." |
"I could replace
God for awhile, that old ring of candles,
that owl's wing brushing the dew
off my grass hair."
Denise Levertov (b. 1923), Anglo-U.S. poet. "Earth Psalm." |
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