Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "Another Spring" is a contemplative poem that reflects on the interplay between life and death, renewal and decay, particularly in the context of spring—a season traditionally associated with rebirth and new beginnings. Through rich imagery and introspective musings, Levertov explores the complexities of existence and the perpetual dance between mortality and vitality.

The poem opens with a striking juxtaposition: "In the gold mouth of a flower the black smell of spring earth." This imagery combines the brightness and beauty of a blooming flower with the dark, fertile earth from which it grows, symbolizing how life emerges from death and decay. The "gold mouth" suggests an inviting, open aspect of life, while the "black smell" underscores the earth's essential, albeit grim, role in nurturing new growth.

Levertov then shifts to a more explicit contemplation of death: "No more skulls on our desks / but the pervasive / testing of death as if we had need of new ways of dying?" Here, she reflects on the omnipresence of death in human consciousness. The "skulls on our desks" could symbolize memento mori, reminders of mortality that encourage reflection on the finite nature of life. The idea of "testing of death" suggests a continuous, almost obsessive engagement with the concept of dying, questioning whether there is a need to explore new facets of this inevitability. Her emphatic "No, / we have no need of new ways of dying" asserts that the focus should rather be on the act of living.

The poem then transitions to a philosophical assertion: "Death in us goes on / testing the wild chance of living, as Adam chanced it." Here, Levertov invokes the biblical figure of Adam, whose life represents the human condition of facing mortality while striving to live fully. The phrase "testing the wild chance of living" captures the precarious and unpredictable nature of life, as well as the inherent risk and beauty in the endeavor to live despite the certainty of death.

The "golden-mouth" reappears in the form of "the tilted smile of the moon westering," which evokes an image of the moon setting, signifying the passage of time and the cycles of life and death. This "Calavera of Spring" (calavera meaning skull in Spanish, often associated with the Day of the Dead) symbolizes the fusion of death and renewal that spring embodies.

The poem then addresses a possible misunderstanding: "Do you mistake me? / I am speaking of living / of moving from one moment into the next, and into the one after, breathing / death in the spring air, knowing air also means music to sing to." Levertov clarifies that her focus is on the act of living—moving through time, moment by moment, and embracing the full spectrum of existence. The "spring air" carries both the scent of death and the potential for music and song, highlighting the duality of life and the beauty that arises from this balance.

"Another Spring" by Denise Levertov is a nuanced meditation on the interdependence of life and death. Through its vivid imagery and reflective tone, the poem encourages readers to embrace the ephemeral nature of existence and find meaning in the continuous cycle of renewal and decay. Levertov's work invites us to consider how we live in the presence of mortality, appreciating the moments of life while acknowledging the inevitability of death.

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