Denise Levertov

about

Denise Levertov was a British-born American poet. While being educated at home, Levertov showed an enthusiasm for writing from an early age, even claiming later in life that, when she was five years old, she had declared she would be a writer. At the age of 12, she sent some of her poems to T. S. Eliot, who replied with a two-page letter of encouragement. In 1940, when she was 17, Levertov published her first poem. During the Blitz, Levertov served in London as a civilian nurse. Her first book, The Double Image, was published six years later. In 1947 she married American writer Mitchell Goodman and moved with him to the United States in the following year. Although Levertov and Goodman would eventually divorce, they had a son, Nickolai, and lived mainly in New York City, summering in Maine. In 1955, she became a naturalized American citizen. Levertov's first two books had concentrated on traditional forms and language. But as she accepted the U.S. as her new home, she became more and more fascinated with the American idiom. She began to come under the influence of the Black Mountain poets and most importantly William Carlos Williams. Her first American book of poetry, Here and Now, shows the beginnings of this transition and transformation. Her poem “With Eyes at the Back of Our Heads” established her reputation. During the 1960s and 70s, Levertov became much more politically active in her life and work. As poetry editor for The Nation, she was able to support and publish

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albums

Powell, M.: Haiku Setting / 2 Prayer Settings / Settings / Little Companion Pieces / Strand Settings / Levertov Breviary

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Poetry Speaks (Disc 3)

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Poem of The Day

Big Ego

Metamorphosis

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Poetry Speaks [Disc 3]

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Dial-A-Poem Poets: Biting off the Tongue of a Corpse, 1975

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Poetry Speaks Expanded [Disc 3]

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The Original Read-In for Peace in Vietnam

Adrienne Rich and Denise Levertov Read Their Poems

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The Spoken Arts Treasury Volume 3

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Poetry On Record (Disc 2)

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