Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s "The Metier of Blossoming" is a contemplative and admiring reflection on the natural process of growth and flowering, using the amaryllis as a central metaphor. The poem celebrates the inherent beauty, patience, and perfection of nature’s cycles while subtly suggesting an ideal for human existence.

Levertov begins by describing the amaryllis’s relentless and focused growth: "Fully occupied with growing—that's / the amaryllis." The flower's dedication to growth, especially at night, is emphasized, suggesting an almost meditative, silent persistence. The poet acknowledges her own impatience in contrast to the amaryllis’s steadfastness: "it would take / only a bit more patience than I've got / to sit keeping watch with it till daylight." This juxtaposition highlights the flower's natural, undistracted drive, which is admirable and awe-inspiring.

The vivid imagery of the amaryllis’s growth is likened to a child measuring height against a barn door: "proudly topping each year's achievement." This comparison brings a sense of innocence and pride to the flower’s natural progression. Levertov describes the stems as "smooth, matte, / traces of reddish purple at the base," capturing the subtle beauty and complexity of the flower’s form. The "almost / imperceptible vertical ridges / running the length of them" emphasize the intricate details that contribute to its overall elegance.

As the poem progresses, the focus shifts to the buds and their eventual blossoming: "Aloft, the gravid buds, shiny with fullness." The anticipation of the blooming flowers is palpable, and Levertov captures the moment of their emergence with wonder: "One morning—and so soon!—the first flower / has opened when you wake." The suddenness of the blooming, despite the patient growth leading up to it, reflects the natural world's capacity for surprise and beauty.

Levertov continues to describe the sequential blooming of the flowers, each one emerging "shy at first like a foal," but soon standing "triumphantly at the summit / of those strong columns." The use of "Juno, calm in brilliance" and "a maiden giantess in modest splendor" imbues the flowers with a sense of majesty and quiet power. These descriptions emphasize the grandeur and dignity of the natural process, portraying the flowers as regal and serene.

The poem then shifts to a reflection on human potential: "If humans could be / that intensely whole, undistracted, unhurried, / swift from sheer / unswerving impetus!" Levertov imagines an ideal state for humans, where we could emulate the amaryllis's focused and undivided growth. The wish for humans to "blossom / out of ourselves, giving / nothing imperfect, withholding nothing" suggests a desire for a purer, more complete way of being. This aspiration highlights the often fragmented and hurried nature of human life, contrasting it with the amaryllis's graceful and complete flowering.

"The Metier of Blossoming" by Denise Levertov is a beautiful meditation on the natural world's patience, perfection, and quiet power. Through the detailed and loving description of the amaryllis, Levertov invites readers to reflect on the virtues of being fully present, dedicated, and whole. The poem suggests that by observing and learning from nature, humans might aspire to a more integrated and purposeful existence, where we too can blossom fully and magnificently.

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