Denise Levertov: Variation On A Theme By Rilke

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Search the Poetry Chaikhana site:

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Denise Levertov | Next Poem >>

Variation On A Theme By Rilke

Denise Levertov, Denise Levertov poetry, Secular or Eclectic, Secular or Eclectic poetry, Beat poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, Jewish poetry

by Denise Levertov
(1923 - 1997) Timeline

Original Language
English

Secular or Eclectic : Beat

Jewish

20th Century

(The Book of Hours, Book I, Poem 1, Stanza 1)

A certain day became a presence to me;
there it was, confronting me -- a sky, air, light:
a being. And before it started to descend
from the height of noon, it leaned over
and struck my shoulder as if with
the flat of a sword, granting me
honor and a task. The day's blow
rang out, metallic -- or it was I, a bell awakened,
and what I heard was my whole self
saying and singing what it knew: I can.

-- from Breathing the Water, by Denise Levertov

Amazon.com

Themes

Light

Sky

Sound

Recommended Books

	Breathing the Water, by Denise Levertov
	Candles in Babylon, by Denise Levertov
	Collected Earlier Poems: 1940 - 1960, by Denise Levertov
	Denise Levertov: Poetry as Prayer, by Murray Bodo
	Denise Levertov: Selected Poems, by Denise Levertov

More >>

<<Previous Poem | More Poems by Denise Levertov | Next Poem >>

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World