"Talking to Grief" by Denise Levertov

Note: This essay was written by Gabriella Ragusa, a student at FranU, in 2024.

One might be able to find poetry in the newspaper, in children’s books, or framed in grandma’s house, but one place you might not suspect to find these works is in a doctor or therapist’s office. Poetry does not discriminate; it is not only for authors and writers but can be for anyone wanting to express themselves in various ways. Poetry as therapy is gaining traction not only for at-home personal use but is also now being used as a means of narrative medicine in the clinical setting. Councilors, therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors have implemented the practice of recommending that patients write poetry to help identify and process emotions in hopes of evoking a journey of mental healing. The poem "Talking to Grief" by Denise Levertov was published in Jennifer Healey’s blog titled “Healing Brave,” which can be found at https://healingbrave.com/blogs/all/talking-to-grief-poem. This poem has therapeutic benefits surrounding grief. Denise Levertov's "Talking to Grief" uses a metaphor of a stray dog to describe ways to overcome grief, which can be viewed as an integral part of one's life as opposed to a nuisance, by commending its importance in overcoming obstacles and establishing resilience. 

This poem could be therapeutically beneficial for someone experiencing grief who has sheltered a stray dog, for they can relate to the different stages of grief by comparing it to nurturing an animal back to its full potential and bringing life back into its eyes. The lines “Ah, Grief, I should not treat you/ like a homeless dog/ who comes to the back door/ for a crust, for a meatless bone.” show that the author believes that grief should not be neglected but should instead be a top priority. This analogy can show a grieving individual the importance of facing their emotions head-on and working to combat their grief. In the poem, the author initially implies that she ignored her grief and withheld her feelings from others. Once she not only acknowledged but also accepted the feelings that consumed her everyday life, she was on the road to recovery. This was a winding road with some hiccups along the way. After creating a safe space for her emotions, she was able to communicate her needs to not only others but, more importantly, herself. Anyone facing negative internal thoughts can benefit from reading this poem. 

This poem is unique in the fact that it personifies grief as a friend. By doing this, the author was able to create a relationship with her grief. As the poem goes on, grief progresses from a living entity to a companion. If one battles through grief alone, they will feel isolated and lonely, just as someone who lacks friends may feel. Through the lines “You think I don’t know you’ve been living/ under my porch.” the author admits to knowing the dog was there, just as she knew that she was admittingly ignoring the grief that was living inside of her. 

This poem not only provides empathetic comfort to those who are mourning, but it also focuses on promoting personal growth and development catered to the reader. During times of change, especially hard change, there comes a stage of rediscovering oneself, which can be difficult and awkward. The lines “You long for your real place to be realized/ before winter comes. You need/ your name, / your collar and tag.” acknowledge the importance of being comfortable in one’s new skin. To begin the process of overcoming strong emotional shifts, one must remain patient with the idea of new beginnings to be able to fully embrace the change. This is a moving poem with an uplifting and encouraging ending. 

Denise Levertov’s poem “Talking to Grief” can be used as a therapeutic remedy for anyone suffering from grief by promoting the acceptance of ill feelings and the facilitation of healing. Poetry is not just made to have a catchy rhyme, provide comic relief, or tell a love story. It can be an outlet for those who struggle with mental health. Even if one does not care for writing poetry, one can still find relief by resonating with the works of others. Poetry is not just for entertainment but can have many benefits such as serving as a safe space for one to express their feelings and resonate with inner emotions.