Wedding-Ring

By Denise Levertov 1923–1997 Denise Levertov

My wedding-ring lies in a basket

as if at the bottom of a well.

Nothing will come to fish it back up

and onto my finger again.

It lies

among keys to abandoned houses,

nails waiting to be needed and hammered

into some wall,

telephone numbers with no names attached,

idle paperclips.

It can’t be given away

for fear of bringing ill-luck

It can’t be sold

for the marriage was good in its own

time, though that time is gone.

Could some artificer

beat into it bright stones, transform it

into a dazzling circlet no one could take

for solemn betrothal or to make promises

living will not let them keep? Change it

into a simple gift I could give in friendship?

Denise Levertov, “The Wedding-Ring” from Life in the Forest. Copyright © 1978 by Denise Levertov. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation.

Source: Life in the Forest (New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2002)

Biography

During the course of a prolific career, Denise Levertov created a highly regarded body of poetry that reflects her beliefs as an artist and a humanist. Her work embraces a wide variety of genres and themes, including nature lyrics, love poems, protest poetry, and poetry inspired by her faith in God. "Dignity, reverence, and strength are words that come to mind as one gropes to characterize . . . one of America's most respected . . .

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