The Stream and the Sapphire: Selected Poems on Religious Themes Book

This collection was my first of Levertov's and is an absolute delight; upon finishing it, I went through the table of contents to mark my absolute favorite poems, and came up with 12 out of the total 38--quite the solid ratio, in my mind. The most favored of the twelve* are likely "Agnus Dei," "Flickering Mind," "Suspended," "To Live in the Mercy of God," "On a Theme from Julian's Chapter XX," and "St. Thomas Didymus." That last, oh, how absolutely marvelous it is; it's perfectly placed as the penultimate entry in the collection.

None of Levertov's poems are overlong; she packs plenty of meaning into those words she doesn't mince (i.e. all of them). One quality I really admire about the poems in this collection (and I'd imagine in Levertov's Å“uvre more broadly) is their air of imaginative, Spirit-led contemplation. It's almost like we're inside Levertov's imagination with her, considering and reconsidering scenes from Christian history as well as experiences common to us all. As such, I found them great poems for spiritual reflection, and I don't think they'd be out of place during personal devotional time. I dig her view of Christ, especially in "On a Theme from Julian's Chapter XX" and "Ikon: The Harrowing of Hell."

One of my favorite takeaways from the collection--Levertov is not one of those poets who only deigns to appreciate the physical world in its rare, picturesque moments of transcendence; rather, she explores everything from sheep manure to littered beaches to little seeds of grain and seems genuinely content in doing so. I love that sort of poetry, because it (along with the Spirit) enchants our surroundings, shows how every moment can be holy. Grateful to have gotten this collection under the Christmas tree and I'm looking forward to reading some more Levertov in future!

*I'm sure Jesus didn't pick favorites, but I sure am in this review. :)