Priscilla Denise Levertov:
(24 October 1923 – 20 December 1997).
British-born naturalised American poet.
She was heavily influenced by the Black Mountain poets and by the political context of the Vietnam War, which she explored in her poetry book The Freeing of the Dust. She was a recipient of the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry.
Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August.
This line invites you to ‘pause and fully take in the atmosphere of August’—the warmth, ripeness, flowers, fruit, long evenings, and quiet abundance of late summer.
– “Breathe” suggests mindfulness:
slow down and experience the moment.
– “Sweetness” points to the pleasant, mellow beauty of August.
– “Hovers” suggests something delicate and temporary—August’s charm is in the air, but it will soon pass.
In simple terms:
‘enjoy the fleeting beauty and richness of late summer while it lasts.’🌻
✍️ Author: The quote is commonly attributed to Denise Levertov
— a British-born American poet.
– Lived: 1923–1997
– Known for: Nature poetry, spiritual themes, political and social conscience, vivid attention to everyday moments.
📚 Origin:
It is ‘not an old proverb or traditional saying’. It is generally cited as a ‘poetic line’ by Denise Levertov, often associated with her nature-themed poetry and seasonal reflections.
⚠️ Note: Online quote collections frequently share it as a standalone August quote, sometimes without giving the exact poem or collection. The attribution to Levertov is the common one.
