Customer Reviews

Selected Poems

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Denise Levertov is among the very best of what I've encountered. There are many poets who can win attention by using a clever metaphor or speaking about things that have shock value. But levertov is restrained in these matters. She is plain, direct, subtle, but a genius of music, measure, and lyric intensity. Her poetry carries the art to another level. Hers is the kind of poetry that cannot be translated into another language because it so efficiently and masterfully uses the material of the English language. Every word is crucial, with not a syllable extra. The effect is powerful,ecstatic, unforgettable.
Levertov stands out not only as one of the greatest modern poets, but also as penetrating mystic and spiritual thinker. Denise Levertov lived during one of the most violent times in history, from World War I to the Vietnam War. She was a prominent anti war and environmental activist, and in her poetry we feel her sense of injustice at these ills. Yet despite all of these things, she celebrates the world and existence, and sees human beings as courageous beings despite their penchant for destruction. She speaks often of the physical, of joy being present here and now, the need to engage our senses, and of being open to mystery and beauty. Her exceptional intelligence, wisdom, and compassion combined with her poetic mastery makes her truly a diamond in a sea of lesser jewels.

This is the most important collection of Levertov's poetry. It takes a sampling from every collection she published, showing the growth and versatility of her poetic line. If there is no Collected Poems, where one can have everything, then this gives an acceptable one-volume representation that is quite worthwhile.

A nicely typeset book, good size and excellent introduction by Robert Creeley, Unfortunately, there are horrible errata (e.g. incorrect titles of poems) littered throughout the book. Wish New Directions had paid more attention. This book is fine for an introduction to Levertov, but I would say not for serious study. I have to agree and disagree with other reviews of this. Yes, this book can work as a "Collected Poems of..." as none exist, but "Selected Poems" strip the reader of any context, most particularly the context of "the book"--highlights are nice, but not always, especially here with respect to how much Denise Levertov's poetics changed in reaction to the Vietnam War. If you do pick this up, I highly recommend her correspondence with Robert Duncan as well (UC Press); it's a massive tome, but is very instructive as a guide to her sensibilities toward the public and the private.

Lacey's bias is such that his selection results in an overemphasis on religion, religion, religion, and more religion. One would have hoped that New Directions would have chosen someone who could actually embrace, in equal measure, Levertov's entire range -- which was not so narrowly confined to religion, religion, religion, and more religion. (The Duncan-Levertov letters suffer the same bias from Albert Gelpi.)

What is it about the "securely" religious that they must infect everything they touch with their private, personal preference?

A better choice would probably have been Robert Creeley, who was at least able to transcend that narrow straightjacketing myopia.