Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "After Mindwalk" is a profound exploration of the shift in human perception and understanding brought about by modern scientific discoveries. The poem grapples with the dissolution of traditional concepts of matter and reality, and the consequent existential and philosophical implications for our understanding of the self and the universe.

The poem begins by addressing the transformation in our comprehension of the physical world: "Once we've laboriously / disconnected our old conjunctions - / 'physical', 'solid', 'real', 'material'." This opening reflects the arduous process of moving beyond outdated notions tied to classical physics, embracing a new paradigm where such terms no longer hold their conventional meanings.

Levertov then delves into the concept of process over matter: "freed them / from antique measure to admit what, / even through eyes naked but robed / in optic devices, is not perceptible." Here, she acknowledges that modern scientific instruments reveal realities that our naked eyes cannot perceive. This shift from tangible matter to intangible processes marks a significant leap in human understanding.

The poem continues to challenge the conventional notions of scale and substance: "admitted / that 'large' and 'small' are bereft / of meaning, since not matter but process, process only, / gathers itself to appear / knowable: world, universe." This suggests that the universe is not composed of static objects but dynamic processes, constantly evolving and interrelated.

Levertov then transitions to the emotional and existential impact of this new understanding: "then what we feel / in moments of bleak arrest, / panic's black cloth falling / over our faces, over our breath." The recognition of the universe as a series of processes rather than solid objects can lead to moments of existential dread and a sense of disorientation.

Drawing on Pascal's famous contemplation of the infinite, she writes: "is a new twist of Pascal's dread, / a shift of scrutiny, / its object now / inside our flesh, the infinite spaces discovered / within our own atoms." Here, Levertov explores how this new scientific perspective turns our gaze inward, revealing the vast, intricate processes within our very bodies, mirroring the infinite expanses of the cosmos.

The poem then delves into the concept of the Void, remnants from before the creation of light: "bits of the Void left over from before / the Fiat Lux, immeasurably / incorporate in our discarnate, fictive, / (yes, but sentient,) notion of substance." This idea connects the void within our atoms to the cosmic void, suggesting a profound continuity between the microcosm and the macrocosm.

Levertov concludes by reflecting on the elusive yet persistent nature of the soul: "flux which the soul alone / pervades, elusive but persistent." Despite the new understanding of reality as a flux of processes, the soul remains a constant, imbuing these processes with sentience and meaning.

"After Mindwalk" is a meditation on the profound changes in human understanding brought about by modern science. Levertov beautifully articulates the existential unease that comes with these new insights, while also suggesting a deeper, enduring connection between the self and the universe. Through her evocative language and philosophical reflections, the poem invites readers to contemplate the nature of reality and the place of the human soul within it.

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