Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov's "Animal Spirits" is a vivid and evocative exploration of childhood energy, the evolution of that energy into adulthood, and the enduring need for physical and emotional release. The poem captures the essence of youthful exuberance and its transformation into more sophisticated forms of expression as one matures.

The poem opens with a depiction of the speaker at the age of five, brimming with "undifferentiated energy, animal spirits." This phrase encapsulates the raw, untamed vitality of childhood. The child’s energy is described as "pent-up desire for the unknown," suggesting an innate curiosity and a drive to explore the world. Unable to contain this energy, the child releases it by running back and forth, "shouting-- / roaring, really," and deliberately slamming into objects in the room. This chaotic activity represents a primal, almost instinctual need to express and expel energy.

The shift from five to six years old marks a significant development in how the speaker channels this energy. The child discovers the swing, a "merry gallows / of dark-green wood," which becomes a new and exhilarating outlet. The swing symbolizes a newfound sense of control and the ability to direct the pent-up energy into a purposeful activity. The speaker vividly describes the experience of swinging, likening the motion to rowing a boat in the air and eventually letting go to "fly" through the air. This flight, "Icarian, dazed," captures a moment of pure, unrestrained freedom, echoing the myth of Icarus but without the fatal consequences. The child's fall into a garden of flowers—"hollyhocks, snapdragons, love-in-a-mist"—emphasizes the beauty and innocence of this daring adventure.

As the speaker grows older, the need for physical release evolves: "The need passed as I grew; / the mind took over, devising / paths for that force in me." Here, Levertov illustrates the transition from physical to mental engagement, with the mind finding new ways to channel the once rampant energy. The body becomes more sedentary, finding satisfaction in quieter activities like reading. However, the poem acknowledges that the body still occasionally demands physical exertion, reflecting the enduring need for movement and release.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the continuing desire for an absolute experience, a form of exhaustion that provides a sense of fulfillment: "to walk swiftly in wind and rain / long and far and into the dusk, / wanting some absolute, some exhaustion." This final image encapsulates the idea that even as the speaker matures, there remains a fundamental need to connect with the primal energy of youth, to find moments of intense physical and emotional experience that transcend the everyday.

"Animal Spirits" by Denise Levertov beautifully captures the journey from childhood exuberance to adult introspection, highlighting the ways in which we adapt and find new outlets for our innate energy and desires. Through rich imagery and a keen understanding of human development, Levertov invites readers to reflect on their own paths from youthful vitality to the complexities of adult life, and the enduring quest for moments of absolute, unrestrained freedom.

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