The Sharks by Denise Levertov
Well then, the last day the sharks appeared.
Dark fins appear, innocent
as if in fair warning. The sea becomes sinister, are they everywhere?
I tell you, they break six feet of water.
Isn't it the same sea, and won't we
play in it anymore?
I liked it clear and not
too calm, enough waves
to fly in on. For the first time
I dared to swim out of my depth.
It was sundown when they came, the time
when a sheen of copper stills the sea,
not dark enough for moonlight, clear enough
to see them easily. Dark
the sharp lift of the fins.
The poetry of Denise Levertov is captivating and fascinating. I have recently done a midterm project on the works of Wanda Coleman. Levertov's poetry is similar to Coleman's in the aspect of using very descriptive imagery. Both use great language in conveying the scene being written about and the emotions such a situation could elicit from someone. However, Levertov is more straightforward, which I enjoy. Coleman's poetry is filled with African-American culture allusions while Levertov's poems make it easy to understand the meaning behind the poem. I would have to say that reading Levertov's poetry is easier than that of Wanda Coleman's because of the straightforwardness and lacking of allusions to specific historical times, cultures, or mythologies.
Well then, the last day the sharks appeared.
Dark fins appear, innocent
as if in fair warning. The sea becomes sinister, are they everywhere?
I tell you, they break six feet of water.
Isn't it the same sea, and won't we
play in it anymore?
I liked it clear and not
too calm, enough waves
to fly in on. For the first time
I dared to swim out of my depth.
It was sundown when they came, the time
when a sheen of copper stills the sea,
not dark enough for moonlight, clear enough
to see them easily. Dark
the sharp lift of the fins.
The poetry of Denise Levertov is captivating and fascinating. I have recently done a midterm project on the works of Wanda Coleman. Levertov's poetry is similar to Coleman's in the aspect of using very descriptive imagery. Both use great language in conveying the scene being written about and the emotions such a situation could elicit from someone. However, Levertov is more straightforward, which I enjoy. Coleman's poetry is filled with African-American culture allusions while Levertov's poems make it easy to understand the meaning behind the poem. I would have to say that reading Levertov's poetry is easier than that of Wanda Coleman's because of the straightforwardness and lacking of allusions to specific historical times, cultures, or mythologies.
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