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POEMS 1968-1972
Denise Levertov's Poems 1968-1972 gathers together all the poems from Relearning the Alphabet (1970), To Stay Alive (1971), and Footprints (1972). Testifying to Levertov's growing strength and technical mastery as a poet, Poems 1968-1972 also affirms the clarity of her vision in its resistance to the Vietnam War and its "opposition to the whole system of insane greed of which war is only the inevitable expression."The third retrospective volume of her poetry to be published to date by New Directions, Poems 1968-1972 carries forward the record of Denise Levertov's remarkable poetic development from Collected Earlier Poems 1940-1960 and Poems 1960-1967 .
- GenresPoetry
259 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1987
About the author
Denise Levertov
200 books170 followersAmerican poet Denise Levertov was born in Ilford, Essex, England. Her mother, Beatrice Spooner-Jones Levertoff, was Welsh. Her father, Paul Levertoff, from Germany migrated to England as a Russian Hassidic Jew, who, after converting to Christianity, became an Anglican parson. At the age of 12, she sent some of her poems to T. S. Eliot, who replied with a two-page letter of encouragement. In 1940, when she was 17, Levertov published her first poem.
During the Blitz, Levertov served in London as a civilian nurse. Her first book, The Double Image, was published six years later. In 1947 she married American writer Mitchell Goodman and moved with him to the United States in the following year. Although Levertov and Goodman would eventually divorce, they had a son, Nickolai, and lived mainly in New York City, summering in Maine. In 1955, she became a naturalized American citizen.
During the 1960s and 70s, Levertov became much more politically active in her life and work. As poetry editor for The Nation, she was able to support and publish the work of feminist and other leftist activist poets. The Vietnam War was an especially important focus of her poetry, which often tried to weave together the personal and political, as in her poem "The Sorrow Dance," which speaks of her sister's death. Also in response to the Vietnam War, Levertov joined the War Resister’s League.
Much of the latter part of Levertov’s life was spent in education. After moving to Massachusetts, Levertov taught at Brandeis University, MIT and Tufts University. On the West Coast, she had a part-time teaching stint at the University of Washington and for 11 years (1982-1993) held a full professorship at Stanford University. In 1984 she received a Litt. D. from Bates College. After retiring from teaching, she traveled for a year doing poetry readings in the U.S. and England.
In 1997, Denise Levertov died at the age of 74 from complications due to lymphoma. She was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
Levertov wrote and published 20 books of poetry, criticism, translations. She also edited several anthologies. Among her many awards and honors, she received the Shelley Memorial Award, the Robert Frost Medal, the Lenore Marshall Prize, the Lannan Award, a grant from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
During the Blitz, Levertov served in London as a civilian nurse. Her first book, The Double Image, was published six years later. In 1947 she married American writer Mitchell Goodman and moved with him to the United States in the following year. Although Levertov and Goodman would eventually divorce, they had a son, Nickolai, and lived mainly in New York City, summering in Maine. In 1955, she became a naturalized American citizen.
During the 1960s and 70s, Levertov became much more politically active in her life and work. As poetry editor for The Nation, she was able to support and publish the work of feminist and other leftist activist poets. The Vietnam War was an especially important focus of her poetry, which often tried to weave together the personal and political, as in her poem "The Sorrow Dance," which speaks of her sister's death. Also in response to the Vietnam War, Levertov joined the War Resister’s League.
Much of the latter part of Levertov’s life was spent in education. After moving to Massachusetts, Levertov taught at Brandeis University, MIT and Tufts University. On the West Coast, she had a part-time teaching stint at the University of Washington and for 11 years (1982-1993) held a full professorship at Stanford University. In 1984 she received a Litt. D. from Bates College. After retiring from teaching, she traveled for a year doing poetry readings in the U.S. and England.
In 1997, Denise Levertov died at the age of 74 from complications due to lymphoma. She was buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
Levertov wrote and published 20 books of poetry, criticism, translations. She also edited several anthologies. Among her many awards and honors, she received the Shelley Memorial Award, the Robert Frost Medal, the Lenore Marshall Prize, the Lannan Award, a grant from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 28, 2020
Trying to remember old dreams. A voice. Who came in.
And meanwhile the rain, all day, all evening,
quiet steady sound. Before it grew too dark
watched the blue iris leaning under the rain,
the flame of the poppies guttered and went out.
A voice. Almost recalled. There have been times
the gods entered.
And meanwhile the rain, all day, all evening,
quiet steady sound. Before it grew too dark
watched the blue iris leaning under the rain,
the flame of the poppies guttered and went out.
A voice. Almost recalled. There have been times
the gods entered.
September 6, 2017
First time I have read this poet. A powerful body of work - personal, descriptive and politically committed. This anthology was especially interesting to me because it records Levertov's engagement with the anti-Vietnam War movement, her growing comprehension that the system was so rotten and corrupt and greedy that war was the inevitable expression, and her commitment to revolution. Highly recommended.
May 9, 2022
“is there anything I write any more that is not elegy?”
A powerful body of work. I especially love her exploration of the personal in the political and spiritual. “Life at War” will stick with me for a long time.
A powerful body of work. I especially love her exploration of the personal in the political and spiritual. “Life at War” will stick with me for a long time.
April 20, 2023
took me a long time to read because my head is on fire
sharp turn towards politically engaged poetry; anti Vietnam war stuff; also emergence of short poems no more than eight lines, haiku-like
sharp turn towards politically engaged poetry; anti Vietnam war stuff; also emergence of short poems no more than eight lines, haiku-like
November 14, 2021
3 1/2 stars
February 20, 2020
“No reason: hyacinthine, ordinary,
extraordinary creature:
on your two legs, running,
the grey brain above
transmitting its poetry—
just that you are, man, someone,
wings at your heels, the gods sent
to tell me.” - Why Me?
extraordinary creature:
on your two legs, running,
the grey brain above
transmitting its poetry—
just that you are, man, someone,
wings at your heels, the gods sent
to tell me.” - Why Me?
January 13, 2021
“The sympathy of mild good folk,/ a kind of latex their leaves;/ our inconvenience draws it out./ The white of egg without the yolk,/ it soothes their conscience and relieves/ the irritations of their doubt”
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July 9, 2010All three collections, Poems 1968-1972, Poems 1972-1982, Collected Earlier Poems, 1940-1960 should be read and studied several times over. Levertov’s ability with imagery and structure are breathtaking. Her writing is filled with subtle movements, but also stark scenes which can mesmerize the reader. In Levertov’s writing, she creates mood and meditation not only through her metaphors and words but the structures of her poems.
January 10, 2008
Levertov's poems are steeped with the politics of the time and very relevant to the American scene today. She reminds us that the '60s and '70s were not just about drugs, rock and roll, disco and free love, but they were about people who reacted with passion to injustice and hypocrisy.
November 21, 2008
She was such an important poet, so much of what she has written becomes more and more relevant over time...a major prophetic and philosophic voice in American Arts & Letters.
November 4, 2011
The chameleon who wistfully
thought it could not suffer
nostalgia
now on a vast sheet of clear glass
cowers, and prays for vision
of russet bark and trembling foliage.
thought it could not suffer
nostalgia
now on a vast sheet of clear glass
cowers, and prays for vision
of russet bark and trembling foliage.
Read
October 13, 2014Love all the formats.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews