Levertov's poem is about life. She takes the euphemism of the journey to death's doors and gives us metaphors built on this being an almost literal walk down a path. There is a lot to discuss within her poem, but the theme of foods is especially powerful. Levertov says that, on the journey we take these days, we are fed on rotten "knowledge-apples." She is clear that it is not the apple itself that's bad but that it's been tainted by "poisoned soil" and that we are now forced to eat this disgusting apple. The one we used to eat was sometimes hard to swallow but it had substance and was refreshing. The other food she mentions is the "plain bread" that we could eat with the apple. This bread is "common happiness"--something she says we are sorely missing these days.
Putting aside the possible interpretation that she is just another "old fart" who doesn't appreciate the younger generation, I feel like there's a lot of truth in her poem. I know I've personally seen some people, young and old, who seem to be "prisoners" of their lives rather than sampling the delicious fruit that is presented to them. This poem brings to my mind the adage: "Master your mind; don't let your mind master you." But the question I have is: now that we have this tainted fruit, this poisoned knowledge-apple, is it possible to live a life with the "common happiness" Levertov praises? Is there any healthy fruit left to eat?
Here's the poem on PF:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171236
