When my senior thesis advisor deigned
To discuss my topic with me,
He frowned and hesitated.
“Feasible but dangerous,”
He sternly cautioned me.
He continued to explain the lack
Of scholarly reviews and critical acclaim
Made my topic risky.
Denise Levertov was a living poet—
Not dead, you see.
I argued that I could meet
Ms. Levertov who lived nearby.
Uncover her psyche,
Discover her true meaning,
And hear her read her poetry.
Besides, I had my own ideas
About the poet and her work:
“The world is
Not with us enough
O taste and see.”
I pleaded and persuaded
‘Til he reluctantly agreed.
I wrote the thesis; I got a B.
Soon after, my advisor
Became English Department Chair,
“Feasible…”
He left in disgrace.
He had an affair.
“…but dangerous.”
Years later, the college
Conferred upon Ms. Levertov, distinguished poet,
An honorary degree.
That she was “feasible but dangerous”
They plainly didn’t see.
1997
1 comment:
After years of studying nothing but dead, white, European males--Emily Dickinson was the only exception, I longed to write my senior thesis on a living female poet. My advisor hated the idea, but eventually he grumpily gave in. I was inspired to write this poem when I saw that my alma mater bestowed an honorary degree upon Denise Levertov.
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