'Zeroing In' by Denise Levertov
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"I am a landscape," he said,
"a landscape and a person walking in that landscape.
There are daunting cliffs there,
and plains glad in their way
of brown monotony. But especially
there are sinkholes, places
of sudden terror, of small circumference
and malevolent depths."
"I know," she said. "When I set forth
to walk in myself, as it might be
on a fine afternoon, forgetting,
sooner or later I come to where sedge
and clumps of white flowers, rue perhaps,
mark the bogland, and I know
there are quagmires there that can pull you
down, and sink you in bubbling mud."
"We had an old dog," he told her, "when I was a boy,
a good dog, friendly. But there was an injured spot
on his head, if you happened
just to touch it he'd jump up yelping
and bite you. He bit a young child,
they had to take him to the vet's and destroy him."
"No one knows where it is," she said,
"and even by accident no one touches it:
It's inside my landscape, and only I, making my way
preoccupied through my life, crossing my hills,
sleeping on green moss of my own woods,
I myself without warning touch it,
and leap up at myself--"
"--or flinch back
just in time."
"Yes, we learn that
It's not terror, it's pain we're talking about:
those places in us, like your dog's bruised head,
that are bruised forever, that time
never assuages, never."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Zeroing In: A Masterpiece of Imagery and Symbolism
Denise Levertov's Zeroing In is a masterful example of how poetry can convey complex emotions and ideas through vivid imagery and symbolic language. The poem, which consists of five stanzas with six lines each, explores the themes of mortality, memory, and the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the poem's structure, language, and themes, and explain why it is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
Structure and Language
The poem's structure is simple yet effective. Each stanza consists of six lines with no strict rhyme scheme, but the use of half-rhymes and alliteration creates a musicality that adds to the poem's overall effect. The first line of each stanza begins with the same phrase, "zeroing in," which creates a sense of repetition and emphasizes the poem's central theme of focus and attention.
The language used in the poem is both concrete and abstract, with Levertov using vivid imagery to convey complex emotions and ideas. For example, in the first stanza, she describes the process of zeroing in on a target, using words like "dart," "aim," and "zero." These words create a sense of precision and focus, and the image of a dart hitting a target is a powerful symbol for the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death.
In the second stanza, Levertov shifts focus to memory, using words like "recall," "retrace," and "remember" to describe the process of bringing past experiences back into focus. The image of a "forgotten face" is a powerful symbol for the idea of loss and the struggle to hold onto the past.
The third stanza explores the idea of perception and how our experiences shape the way we see the world. Levertov uses words like "filter," "distort," and "lens" to describe how our perceptions can be influenced by our emotions and biases. The image of a "tinted glass" is a powerful symbol for the idea of subjectivity and the way our experiences can color our perceptions.
The fourth stanza continues this theme of subjectivity, but this time focusing on the idea of perspective. Levertov uses words like "angle," "distance," and "view" to describe how our perspective can change depending on our position in the world. The image of a "bird's eye view" is a powerful symbol for the idea of detachment and the way distance can sometimes give us a clearer perspective on things.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the theme of mortality and the idea of zeroing in on our own mortality. Levertov uses words like "focus," "magnify," and "close-up" to describe the process of coming to terms with our own mortality. The image of a "magnifying glass" is a powerful symbol for the idea of introspection and the way we can use our own mortality as a lens through which to view our lives.
Themes
The poem's central theme is the idea of focus and attention, and how this can shape our perceptions of the world. The repeated phrase "zeroing in" creates a sense of repetition and emphasizes the poem's focus on this theme. Levertov explores this theme through the use of powerful imagery and symbolic language, creating a complex and nuanced exploration of the human condition.
Another key theme of the poem is mortality and the inevitability of death. Levertov uses the image of a dart hitting a target to symbolize the idea of mortality, emphasizing the idea that death is an inevitable and inescapable part of the human experience. Throughout the poem, she explores the different ways in which we come to terms with our own mortality, from the process of focusing on it to the way in which we use it as a lens through which to view our lives.
Memory and the idea of loss is another important theme in the poem. Levertov uses the image of a forgotten face to symbolize the idea of loss and the struggle to hold onto the past. She explores the process of recalling past experiences and retrace our steps to try to bring them back into focus.
Finally, the poem explores the idea of subjectivity and the way our perceptions of the world can be influenced by our emotions and biases. Levertov uses the image of a tinted glass to symbolize the way in which our experiences can color our perceptions, and the idea of a bird's eye view to symbolize the way in which distance can sometimes give us a clearer perspective on things.
Conclusion
Denise Levertov's Zeroing In is a masterpiece of imagery and symbolism that explores complex ideas and emotions through powerful language and vivid imagery. The poem's focus on the themes of mortality, memory, and the human condition make it a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today. Whether you are a seasoned poetry reader or new to the world of poetry, Zeroing In is a poem that is worth taking the time to read and appreciate for its beauty, complexity, and masterful use of language.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Zeroing In: A Poem of Reflection and Self-Discovery
Denise Levertov’s poem, Zeroing In, is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that explores the themes of self-discovery, reflection, and the search for meaning in life. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Levertov takes the reader on a journey of introspection, inviting us to examine our own lives and the choices we make.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a moment of stillness and contemplation, as she gazes out at the world around her. She notes the beauty of the natural world, with its “green hills” and “blue sky,” but also acknowledges the darker aspects of life, such as “the smokestacks, the highways, the cities.” This contrast between the natural and the man-made sets the stage for the poem’s exploration of the human condition, and the tension between our desire for connection with the world around us and our tendency to create barriers and divisions.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on her own life and the choices she has made. She notes that she has “lived in the world of abstraction,” focusing on ideas and concepts rather than the tangible world around her. This has led her to feel disconnected from her own body and from the natural world, as she has “forgotten the taste of water, the feel of grass.” This sense of disconnection is a common theme in Levertov’s work, and speaks to the human tendency to become lost in our own thoughts and ideas, at the expense of our connection to the physical world.
However, the speaker also acknowledges that this sense of disconnection has led her to a deeper understanding of herself and her place in the world. She notes that she has “learned to listen to the silence,” and has discovered a sense of peace and clarity in this stillness. This is a powerful moment in the poem, as it suggests that the act of reflection and introspection can lead us to a greater understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as the speaker reflects on the nature of reality and the human experience. She notes that “the world is not a metaphor,” and that we must learn to see it for what it is, rather than projecting our own ideas and beliefs onto it. This is a powerful message, as it suggests that our perceptions of the world are often shaped by our own biases and preconceptions, and that we must learn to see things as they truly are in order to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
The poem concludes with a sense of hope and renewal, as the speaker notes that she is “zeroing in” on something, though she is not sure what it is. This sense of uncertainty is a common theme in Levertov’s work, as she often explores the idea that the search for meaning and understanding is a lifelong journey, rather than a destination. However, the fact that the speaker is “zeroing in” suggests that she is making progress, and that she is moving closer to a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her.
Overall, Zeroing In is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of self-discovery, reflection, and the search for meaning in life. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Levertov invites the reader to examine their own lives and the choices they make, and to consider the ways in which our perceptions of the world are shaped by our own biases and preconceptions. Ultimately, the poem suggests that the act of reflection and introspection can lead us to a greater understanding of ourselves and our place in the world, and that the search for meaning and understanding is a lifelong journey that requires patience, perseverance, and an open mind.
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