Talking to Grief

1. Talking to Grief A poem by Denise Levertov Presented by Andrew Lynch

2. Denise Levertov • Born in Ilford, Essex, England on October 24, 1923 • At the age of twelve, she sent some of her poems to T. S. Eliot • He replied approvingly • Her first book, The Double Image, was published when she was twenty-three • She was influenced by the Black Mountain poets • Died on December 20, 1997 (complications from lymphoma)

3. Talking to Grief • Ah, Grief, I should not treat youlike a homeless dogwho comes to the back doorfor a crust, for a meatless bone.I should trust you.I should coax youinto the house and give youyour own corner,a worn mat to lie on,your own water dish.

4. Talking to Grief • You think I don't know you've been livingunder my porch.You long for your real place to be readiedbefore winter comes. You needyour name,your collar and tag. You needthe right to warn off intruders,to considermy house your ownand me your personand yourselfmy own dog.

5. Anybody?

6. Talking to Grief • Ah, Grief, I should not treat youlike a homeless dogwho comes to the back doorfor a crust, for a meatless bone.I should trust you.I should coax youinto the house and give youyour own corner,a worn mat to lie on,your own water dish.

7. Talking to Grief • You think I don't know you've been livingunder my porch.You long for your real place to be readiedbefore winter comes. You needyour name,your collar and tag. You needthe right to warn off intruders,to considermy house your ownand me your personand yourselfmy own dog.

8. The Speaker • A man or woman saddened by an event • I felt that it was a woman considering the author’s gender • Lives by herself in a northern region • “my house”, “readied before winter comes” • Feels a connection with animals • Particularly dogs

9. Attitude of the Speaker • The speaker is forlorn • The speaker is learning to live with the grief • Like one lives with an animal • Akin to a therapeutic animal going to nursing home • The speaker is willing to move ahead and accept what lies ahead • “and yourself my own dog”

10. Organization • 3 stanzas • 5 lines • 5 lines • 12 lines • Free Verse • No major rhyme scheme or pattern

11. Simple Summarization • Lines 1-5 • Introduction of the grief / homeless dog simile, speaker feels she should face her grief. • Lines 6-10 • Continuation of simile. She needs to confront her grief in a similar manner to getting a dog (i.e. all the steps necessary). • Lines 11-22 • She needs to properly identify her grief and work with it to move on and live her life.

12. Diction and Syntax • Simple language • Conversational • Picture a person literally talking to a dog • The syntax of this poem is simple • “You long for your real place to be readied before winter comes”

13. Dominant Imagery • The dog • The dog is the same as the speakers grief • It “hides” under her “house” • It needs a name • It needs to be confronted in order to be dealt with • The house • The speakers mind / body / soul

14. Conclusions • This poem is a look into the world of a grief-stricken person. • How one deals with grief • How the speaker deals with grief • Methods of dealing with grief

15. Ah, Grief, I should not treat youlike a homeless dogwho comes to the back doorfor a crust, for a meatless bone.I should trust you.I should coax youinto the house and give youyour own corner,a worn mat to lie on,your own water dish. You think I don't know you've been livingunder my porch.You long for your real place to be readiedbefore winter comes. You needyour name,your collar and tag. You needthe right to warn off intruders,to considermy house your ownand me your personand yourselfmy own dog. Talking to Grief