The narrative of Jacob's dream, drawn from Genesis 28:10-17, serves as a rich metaphor in "The Jacob's Ladder" for crafting poetry. In this biblical tale, Jacob dreams of a ladder stretching from Earth to heaven, with angels traveling up and down. God promises him ownership of the land he sees and foretells his descendants' vast numbers, akin to the earth's dust. Upon waking, Jacob declares the place holy, touched by divine presence.

Levertov's Interpretation

Levertov reimagines this story, employing it as a motif to explore her ideas on poetry, which she believes can approach the divine realm. Her depiction transforms the ladder into a stairway, perhaps inspired by real-world locations like the carved steps at Cheddar Gorge in England. Unlike the ethereal ladder of angels, this stairway is tangible, carved from a rosy stone, meant for human use. Despite its earthly form, the stairway is challenging, with sharp edges that challenge the climber, symbolizing the arduous journey of seeking divine understanding through poetic expression.

The Consolation of Struggle

The arduous climb, while painful, offers consolation to the one who dares to ascend. This struggle mirrors the creative process, where the difficulty of crafting poetry leads to a deeper appreciation and connection to the divine. The imagery of scraped knees suggests that true engagement with the divine requires sacrifice and perseverance, elements that echo the journey of artistic creation.

Ambiguity and Interpretation

The poem's closing line introduces an intriguing ambiguity, suggesting the climber might not be a person but the poem itself ascending heavenward. This raises questions about the nature of poetry: Is it a human creation, or does it possess its own spiritual essence, independent of its creator? By constructing the stairway from solid rock rather than mystical materials, Levertov invites readers to consider the physical and spiritual dimensions of poetic construction.

Contrasting Elements

While the rocky stairway suggests a grounded, physical approach to divine exploration, it stands before a gray, doubtful sky, complicating the interplay between belief and doubt. This contrast enhances the poem's depth, leaving readers to ponder the balance between the tangible and the ephemeral, the earthly and the heavenly. The poem affirms the sanctity of Jacob's dream, yet leaves the question of poetry's divine or human origin open to interpretation.

Poetry as Divine or Corporeal

The narrative suggests that poetry might be a bridge between the corporeal and the divine. The balance between the spiritual and the physical in Levertov's depiction allows for a multifaceted reading, wherein the poem can be seen as an act of human creation reaching toward the divine, or as a divine inspiration manifesting through human effort. This duality reflects the mystical nature of poetry and its potential to transcend the limitations of human experience.

Reader's Reflection

Ultimately, Levertov's work encourages readers to engage with the poem's themes and draw their own conclusions about the relationship between poetry and divinity. By leaving room for interpretation, she highlights the power of poetry to evoke thought and emotion, transcending simple explanations or single interpretations. This open-endedness is a hallmark of her poetic style, inviting ongoing reflection on the essence of creativity and its connection to the sacred.