The
poem “To Live in the Mercy of God” by Denise Levertov demonstrates the poet’s
worthy praise and gratitude of nature; God’s creation. She shows her
appreciation and awe through the descriptions of her surroundings such as the
trees and how they are created as shelter; “To lie back under the
tallest//oldest trees. How far the stems//Rise, rise//before ribs of shelter//open!”
The poet is truly admiring the wonderful trees which serve as a source that
helps keep us alive. Levertov then expresses how blessed human beings are to
live in such splendor. She explores the theme of blessings and nature by intertwining
the grandeur and beauty of the forests and also how fortunate we are to have
such. This can be highlighted in the lines; “To hear the multiple silence//of
trees, the rainy//forest depths of their listening.” I believe the poet is
viewing our surroundings as surreal. It is also necessary to note that she continuously
mentions God’s mercy. I believe she may be thinking that we are probably
undeserving of what we have or that God really loves us, hence the reason why
we are provided with nature and its beauty and convenience.
However
the poet is definitely comparing God’s mercy and love towards human beings to
how unbelievable nature; trees, rocks, waterfalls, etc. is. In the lines, “To
feel vibrate the enraptured//waterfall flinging itself//unabating down and
down//to clenched fists of rock.//Swiftness of plunge, //hour after year after
century,” The poet is comparing how long-lasting God’s mercy is. Just as the
water plunges down from the waterfall to the rock below, for centuries,
Levertov believes that God’s mercy and love is so strong it goes on and on
without end. This message is obvious in the last lines, “Thus, not mild, not
temperate//God’s love for the world. Vast//flood of mercy//flung on resistance.”
This basically means that God is extremely merciful, he is able to continuously
love man and the world, no matter what. Throughout the poem Levertov’s powerful
description of how nature is so strong and is able to replenish itself is also
her way of symbolizing how affectionate and compassionate God is towards mankind.
No comments:
Post a Comment