One of my favorite poems about the dilemmas of life as a woman; it’s crisp, acerbic and right on the mark. Bonus points for the c-word.
Hypocrite women, how seldom we speak
of our own doubts, while dubiously
we mother man in his doubt!
And if at Mill Valley perched in the trees
the sweet rain drifting through western air
a white sweating bull of a poet told us
our cunts are ugly—why didn’t we
admit we have thought so too? (And
what shame? They are not for the eye!)
No, they are dark and wrinkled and hairy,
caves of the Moon … And when a
dark humming fills us, a
coldness towards life,
we are too much women to
own to such unwomanliness.
Whorishly with the psychopomp
we play and plead—and say
nothing of this later. And our dreams,
with what frivolity we have pared them
like toenails, clipped them like ends of
split hair.
[...] Poetry Saturdays: Denise Levertov – The Pursuit of Harpyness [...]
wow.. I haven’t come across this poet before.
I really liked the opening lines – where it seems to suggest that as women, we allow doubts in others (and help others to work through the doubt), but not ourselves.. that we pretend to not have doubts and just go through life, not recognising ourselves -> our fears, our anxieties, our anguish..
I really needed to hear this right now, as I’m having doubts at the moment about getting something done, and to once again realise that doubts are part and parcel of living (and there’s no need to be paralysed by them!) – thanks Becky..
and thanks Michelle, for introducing the poetry corner of the nest..
@Mackey: Glad you like it! I’m not an authority on Levertov’s work, but she’s one of the great 20th century Anglo-American poets, and some of her stuff is knock-you-out good. Here’s a Wiki bio for more info.