'An Embroidery' by Denise Levertov
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Rose Red's hair is brown as fur
and shines in firelight as she prepares
supper of honey and apples, curds and whey,
for the bear, and leaves it ready
on the hearth-stone.
Rose White's grey eyes
look into the dark forest.
Rose Red's cheeks are burning,
sign of her ardent, joyful
compassionate heart.
Rose White is pale,
turning away when she hears
the bear's paw on the latch.
When he enters, there is
frost on his fur,
he draws near to the fire
giving off sparks.
Rose Red catches the scent of the forest,
of mushrooms, of rosin.
Together Rose Red and Rose White
sing to the bear;
it is a cradle song, a loom song,
a song about marriage, about
a pilgrimage to the mountains
long ago.
Raised on an elbow,
the bear stretched on the hearth
nods and hums; soon he sighs
and puts down his head.
He sleeps; the Roses
bank the fire.
Sunk in the clouds of their feather bed
they prepare to dream.
Rose Red in a cave that smells of honey
dreams she is combing the fur of her cubs
with a golden comb.
Rose White is lying awake.
Rose White shall marry the bear's brother.
Shall he too
when the time is ripe,
step from the bear's hide?
Is that other, her bridegroom,
here in the room?
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Embroidery: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Symbolism
Denise Levertov's "An Embroidery" is a stunning piece of poetry that showcases the power of imagery and symbolism. At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple description of an embroidered piece, but it soon becomes clear that there is much more to it than meets the eye. With its vivid imagery and rich symbolism, "An Embroidery" is a masterpiece that deserves careful analysis and interpretation.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a look at the text itself:
In silk and linen, white embroidered with ferns and bracken, lilies and long grasses and primroses in blue and rose, with many stitches, each nail's breadth apart, the fine threads laid one across another, lozenges and twists and herringbones, and the texture raised with knots and loops, it lies on my table beside the unfinished letter.
On the surface, the poem is a description of an embroidered piece, but as we'll see, there is much more to it than that.
Imagery
One of the most striking features of "An Embroidery" is its imagery. Levertov's use of vivid, sensory language creates a rich, textured world that draws the reader in. From the "silk and linen" of the fabric to the "fern and bracken" embroidered upon it, every detail is carefully crafted to create a vivid and evocative image.
What's more, the imagery is not just beautiful; it is also deeply symbolic. The ferns and bracken, for example, suggest a wild, untamed landscape, while the primroses in "blue and rose" suggest a delicate, feminine beauty. The texture of the embroidery, with its "knots and loops," suggests a sense of complexity and depth.
Symbolism
Of course, the most fascinating aspect of "An Embroidery" is its symbolism. Levertov uses the embroidered piece as a metaphor for something much larger: the creative process itself. Like the embroidery, the act of creation involves the careful layering of one element upon another, the use of fine detail and texture to create depth, and the careful balance of beauty and complexity.
But there is more to it than that. The "unfinished letter" that lies beside the embroidery suggests that the act of creation is never truly finished. There is always another layer to add, another detail to perfect. This speaks to the idea that art is a lifelong pursuit, something that is never truly complete.
Another intriguing aspect of the poem is its use of gender symbolism. The delicacy and beauty of the embroidery suggest a feminine sensibility, while the wildness of the ferns and bracken suggest a masculine energy. This suggests that the act of creation is a deeply gendered experience, and that the best art is created when these masculine and feminine energies are in balance.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "An Embroidery" is a meditation on the creative process, and the role that gender and balance play in that process. It suggests that the act of creation is a delicate balance between the wild, untamed energy of the masculine and the delicate, intricate beauty of the feminine.
But it also suggests that this balance is never truly achieved. Like the embroidery, the act of creation is an ongoing process, one that is never truly finished. And yet, despite its imperfections, the act of creation is still a thing of beauty, something that adds richness and texture to our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "An Embroidery" is a stunning piece of poetry that showcases the power of imagery and symbolism. Levertov's use of vivid, sensory language creates a rich, textured world that draws the reader in, while her careful use of symbolism creates a complex and nuanced meditation on the creative process. For anyone interested in art, creativity, or the role that gender plays in these things, "An Embroidery" is a must-read.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
An Embroidery: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery and Symbolism
Denise Levertov’s poem “An Embroidery” is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and symbolism. The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of art, creativity, and the human experience. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Levertov creates a rich and evocative world that invites the reader to explore the depths of the human soul.
The poem begins with a description of an embroidery, a work of art that is both beautiful and intricate. The speaker describes the embroidery in great detail, noting the delicate stitches and the intricate patterns that make up the design. The embroidery is a symbol of the creative process, a testament to the power of human imagination and skill.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the deeper meaning behind the embroidery. She notes that the embroidery is not just a work of art, but a reflection of the human experience. The stitches and patterns of the embroidery represent the joys and sorrows of life, the triumphs and tragedies that shape our existence.
The speaker also notes that the embroidery is a symbol of the human soul. Just as the embroidery is made up of many individual stitches, the human soul is made up of many individual experiences and emotions. The embroidery is a reminder that even the smallest moments of our lives can have a profound impact on who we are and how we see the world.
Throughout the poem, Levertov uses powerful imagery to bring the embroidery to life. She describes the colors and textures of the embroidery in vivid detail, creating a rich and evocative world that draws the reader in. The imagery is both beautiful and haunting, a testament to the power of art to move and inspire us.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the embroidery as a “tapestry of blood and tears.” This image is a powerful reminder of the human cost of creativity and art. It is a reminder that the most beautiful works of art often come from the deepest pain and suffering.
Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the embroidery as a “map of the heart.” This image is a reminder that art is not just a reflection of the world around us, but a reflection of our innermost selves. The embroidery is a map of the human heart, a testament to the power of art to reveal the deepest truths about who we are and what we value.
Levertov also uses powerful symbolism to explore the themes of the poem. The embroidery is a symbol of the creative process, a reminder that art is not just a product, but a journey. The stitches and patterns of the embroidery are a symbol of the human experience, a reminder that our lives are made up of many individual moments that come together to create a larger whole.
The embroidery is also a symbol of the human soul, a reminder that even the smallest moments of our lives can have a profound impact on who we are and how we see the world. The embroidery is a symbol of the power of art to move and inspire us, to reveal the deepest truths about ourselves and the world around us.
In conclusion, Denise Levertov’s poem “An Embroidery” is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and symbolism. The poem explores themes of art, creativity, and the human experience, using powerful imagery and symbolism to create a rich and evocative world that invites the reader to explore the depths of the human soul. The embroidery is a symbol of the creative process, a reminder that art is not just a product, but a journey. It is a symbol of the human experience, a reminder that our lives are made up of many individual moments that come together to create a larger whole. And it is a symbol of the human soul, a reminder that even the smallest moments of our lives can have a profound impact on who we are and how we see the world.
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