Scan barcode
ellareads4's review
4.0
The Collected Poems of Denise Levertov holds a special place in my heart because I lugged this (heavy!) book around during a student trip to Ireland, which I had the good fortune to take between high school and college. I have cherished memories of the trip, and these poems were a beautiful accompaniment to Ireland's lush landscape.
I guess any poet in their Collected Poems will have hits and misses. Yet, Levertov writes with inconsistent quality. Her great poems are truly great, but her lesser poems can be a slog.
This is highly biased, but I also don't think I can forgive Levertov for calling Emily Dickinson "a bitchy little spinster." Dickinson's my favorite poet, so I am sensitive to such critiques, and Levertov's comment feels unduly harsh. (Although, I will admit, slightly comical)
All in all, I love poetry, so I mainly enjoyed Levertov's poems. Some felt urgent, beautiful, and fresh. Many others left me cold.
I guess any poet in their Collected Poems will have hits and misses. Yet, Levertov writes with inconsistent quality. Her great poems are truly great, but her lesser poems can be a slog.
This is highly biased, but I also don't think I can forgive Levertov for calling Emily Dickinson "a bitchy little spinster." Dickinson's my favorite poet, so I am sensitive to such critiques, and Levertov's comment feels unduly harsh. (Although, I will admit, slightly comical)
All in all, I love poetry, so I mainly enjoyed Levertov's poems. Some felt urgent, beautiful, and fresh. Many others left me cold.
More...