Rainwalkers Poem

Journal Entry Five “Rainwalkers”

Ankush Kecht

In the poem “Rainwalkers” by Denise Levertov, it is clear to see the speaker is showing that even with conflicting desires, one may be able to find content with who you are are able to work with it. The speaker in the poem has clear divergent desires that are incompatible. In the fist line of the second stanza, the speaker describes one of the dogs the man is walking, saying,”The small sleek one wants to stop docile to the imploring soul of the trashbasket,” The personification of the trashbasket as an “imploring soul” emphasizes the attachment the trashbasket is trying to draw the dog into. Not only is the trashbasket seeming to make an attempt to lure it in, but the speaker also describes the dog as “docile”, or being submissive towards the trashbasket, unable to say no, or restrain itself. The apeal of the trashbasket along with the submissiveness of the dog causes a passionate and compelling attachment between the two. Near the end of the second stanza, the

In the final stanza of the poem, the speaker states,”The old bareheaded man smiles and grumbles to himself...He drifts between his dogs' desires. The three of them are enveloped turning now to go crosstown in their sense of each other, of pleasure.” First of all, the man’s actions shows his state of state of satisfaction quite clearly. He is is smiling, which is a clear depiction of his general happiness. However, he grumbles after, which is showing he is not feeling complete joy, he is just content with how it is. Next, the quote says he “drifts between his dogs’ desires”. This emphasizes his compromise between both of them, being able to compromise and make peace with what both of them want. Lastly, the speaker says the man and his dogs are “enveloped” which emphasizes that he has accepted these contrasting parts of him, he has become