I love Levertov. But can we acknowledge the first few things she says about her youth: "I also thought I was going to be a painter, I also thought I was going to be a ballet dancer, as well as a poet." How many of us come from that place? How many of us, when growing up, are thinking that all the world's possibilities are within our reach? She was an early Boomer. A generation of privilege (if you were white). Since then, most of us have been wondering: I wonder how I can survive, let alone make art.
I am reading Denise's autobiography for the second time because I am reading her poems and those of Ruth Fainlight in tandem. Denise went to America and never returned to live in England. Ruth left the United States as a girl and lived in London all her life. In her poetry classes Denise would tap out any poem's metre with her fingers.
It's actually across the street. They might have been paid to move if and when eminent domain was claimed by the city to build the WTC, which was a symbol of the capitalist excess and greed that are one cause of so much of the suffering she fought against. And then you consider the legacy of 911 and current state of the Middle East because somebody thought an invasion of Iraq was somehow warranted. It's not apropos, more like directly related. Or I suppose just plain sad and ironic.
Thank you for posting. She was my friend and I miss her.
I love Levertov. But can we acknowledge the first few things she says about her youth: "I also thought I was going to be a painter, I also thought I was going to be a ballet dancer, as well as a poet." How many of us come from that place? How many of us, when growing up, are thinking that all the world's possibilities are within our reach? She was an early Boomer. A generation of privilege (if you were white). Since then, most of us have been wondering: I wonder how I can survive, let alone make art.
I am reading Denise's autobiography for the second time because I am reading her poems and those of Ruth Fainlight in tandem.
Denise went to America and never returned to live in England. Ruth left the United States as a girl and lived in London all her life.
In her poetry classes Denise would tap out any poem's metre with her fingers.
Which biography are you referring to?
"whose eyes are flowers that perceive the stars"
Love all poets, the conscience of our species.
Poetic quote. Should be used widely.
Just for curiosity, I looked up the address 277 Greenwich St. where Denise Levertov lived. It's now the 9/11 memorial.
Wow, isn't that uncannily apropos? It makes total sense her spirit's destiny is intertwined with that memorial, in light of her human rights efforts/
It's actually across the street. They might have been paid to move if and when eminent domain was claimed by the city to build the WTC, which was a symbol of the capitalist excess and greed that are one cause of so much of the suffering she fought against. And then you consider the legacy of 911 and current state of the Middle East because somebody thought an invasion of Iraq was somehow warranted. It's not apropos, more like directly related. Or I suppose just plain sad and ironic.
Olsen, 15:58 mark, freaking brilliant! potentiated super energized being.
I think 22:34 or so, end of "Letter 27," is a magnificent moment.
Sounds like Mickey Spillane or Robert B. Parker
Alive and gesticulationing
Joseph Mitchell of Boston's harbor
"A light growth of green dreams drying."
When was this shot?
Copyright at the end reads MCMXLVI -- 1966, if I'm not mistaken.
dig it