Comments on: Denise Levertov - Scraps of moon http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/ Sacred Poetry from Around the World Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:11:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: John http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-4652 John Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:27:53 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-4652 Two very nice poems. I think that they work better separately, though. Scraps of Moon ends after the phrase "all violation", and Once Only begins after "Only Once" (the former is the correct title). Both are from Levertov's collection _The Great Unknowing_, published posthumously. Once Only brought me to tears the first time I read it. Not from sorrow, or from joy, but from a truth that touched me deeply. Two very nice poems. I think that they work better separately, though. Scraps of Moon ends after the phrase “all violation”, and Once Only begins after “Only Once” (the former is the correct title). Both are from Levertov’s collection _The Great Unknowing_, published posthumously.

Once Only brought me to tears the first time I read it. Not from sorrow, or from joy, but from a truth that touched me deeply.

]]> By: Jess http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-4253 Jess Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:15:17 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-4253 I'm continually entralled by the work of Denise Levertov and her ability to capture you for the short amount of lines and then leave you with questions. I agree that this poem is depicting the human mind, the feeling of frustration or serenity of mind are common in everyday life. However, Levertov grasps this concept and evolves it, using the moon as a symbol for our minds. She builds on the idea that all of our minds are connected as Ivan describes.."But when the mind is brought to a state of serene stillness, it then reflects the wholeness. Even the moon itself is not separate from the sky, but a part of the single continuity that is the sky-moon." I agree that the reason she uses the moon as the metaphor for the human mind is because although we know about it, it still remains mysterious and unfolded for many. The mind is infinitively complex as is space and the moon so each expirience is new and our minds are ever-changing. As usual Levertov leaves the reader with something to ponder, in this case she provides her own advice. …Try to acknowledge the next song in its body-halo of flames as utterly present, as now or never. She wants the reader to graps the idea that nothing is ever completly the same and we should appreciate and understand that in order to fully attain each and every expirience. I’m continually entralled by the work of Denise Levertov and her ability to capture you for the short amount of lines and then leave you with questions. I agree that this poem is depicting the human mind, the feeling of frustration or serenity of mind are common in everyday life. However, Levertov grasps this concept and evolves it, using the moon as a symbol for our minds. She builds on the idea that all of our minds are connected as Ivan describes..”But when the mind is brought to a state of serene stillness, it then reflects the wholeness. Even the moon itself is not separate from the sky, but a part of the single continuity that is the sky-moon.”
I agree that the reason she uses the moon as the metaphor for the human mind is because although we know about it, it still remains mysterious and unfolded for many. The mind is infinitively complex as is space and the moon so each expirience is new and our minds are ever-changing. As usual Levertov leaves the reader with something to ponder, in this case she provides her own advice.
…Try
to acknowledge the next
song in its body-halo of flames as utterly
present, as now or never.

She wants the reader to graps the idea that nothing is ever completly the same and we should appreciate and understand that in order to fully attain each and every expirience.

]]> By: vikash http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3808 vikash Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:28:34 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3808 Dear respected ......................., Really it's a wonderful immagine of a poet which tell us that life can be compare with the moon. So we can say that it is not merely the reflection of moon in 'WATER' But it's a fact that tells more about the truth of life with reflection. Thanks a lot to send me this kind of meaningfull poetry. I am very thankfull to you thanks again. 493 Dear respected …………………..,
Really it’s a wonderful immagine of a poet which tell us that life can be compare with the moon.
So we can say that it is not merely the reflection of moon in ‘WATER’
But it’s a fact that tells more about the truth of life with reflection.

Thanks a lot to send me this kind of meaningfull poetry.
I am very thankfull to you thanks again.
493

]]> By: DevilPoet http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3791 DevilPoet Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:16:47 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3791 Moon is my favourite friend to think and compose poetry. I love this poem.Thanks for sharing. Moon is my favourite friend to think and compose poetry. I love this poem.Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Amiya Chatterjee http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3790 Amiya Chatterjee Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:02:56 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3790 Dear Denise, Its alovely poem. I just loved it. Stilling the mind.......Ah yes I have heard about it so many times and tHE most difficult thing to do. STILL you must try You have to be still but still moving! @Ivan, I love TODAYS THOUGHT very much. This is the multivitamin capsule I need every morning Thank you. Amiyo Dear Denise,
Its alovely poem. I just loved it.
Stilling the mind…….Ah yes I have heard about it so many times and tHE most difficult thing to do.
STILL you must try
You have to be still but still moving!

@Ivan,
I love TODAYS THOUGHT very much.
This is the multivitamin capsule I need
every morning
Thank you.
Amiyo

]]> By: Glennshiva http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3789 Glennshiva Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:58:50 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3789 Whoa! great job, Ivan. This is my very first mailing from you, and it's a whole lot better than I expected. (I wasn't even aware that this was a blog til just now) The moon is "merely" a reflection of the Sun, of course. In a indirect way, it obliges us to see the Sacredness of our own light, as one of your other respondents prayed. Whoa! great job, Ivan. This is my very first mailing from you, and it’s a whole lot better than I expected. (I wasn’t even aware that this was a blog til just now)

The moon is “merely” a reflection of the Sun, of course. In a indirect way, it obliges us to see the Sacredness of our own light, as one of your other respondents prayed.

]]> By: Dee Bradshaw http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3786 Dee Bradshaw Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:14:50 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3786 More then ever, I enjoy your commentary on the poem more then the poetry. Dee More then ever, I enjoy your commentary on the poem more then the poetry.

Dee

]]> By: Holly Cedar http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3785 Holly Cedar Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:21:34 +0000 http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/blog/2009/02/27/denise-levertov-scraps-of-moon/#comment-3785 Synchronicity--I have been writing about my adolescence and was horrified to see that in some ways I am repeating an unevolved pattern...but, this poem and commentary tells me maybe not. Maybe a spiral, going over the old, but still new. It is those broken moon bits scattered (though I am told my mind is my own making.) Yes we are connected, and this gives us the power to scatter one another's moon bits afar. I pray we see the sacredness of our light and we are protected, each in our wholeness. Synchronicity–I have been writing about my adolescence and was horrified to see that in some ways I am repeating an unevolved pattern…but, this poem and commentary tells me maybe not.

Maybe a spiral, going over the old, but still new. It is those broken moon bits scattered (though I am told my mind is my own making.) Yes we are connected, and this gives us the power to scatter one another’s moon bits afar. I pray we see the sacredness of our light and we are protected, each in our wholeness.

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