Here is a summary of the poem:
1. The poem begins with the image of a "bitter fruit tree," whose fruit is "too bitter to swallow." This immediately sets the tone of bitterness and disillusionment that runs throughout the poem.
2. Levertov then asks a series of rhetorical questions about the origins of the tree and the nature of its fruit. She wonders if the bitterness of the fruit is due to the soil in which the tree grows, or if it is the result of the "wind that blows over it."
3. The poet then makes an explicit connection between the bitterness of the fruit and the impact of war. She suggests that the tree is "a symbol of all the bitterness in the world," and that its fruit is "bitter because of all the suffering and pain."
4. Levertov goes on to describe the ways in which war has affected the people of Vietnam. She speaks of "children with no eyes" and "women who weep for their dead sons." She also describes the destruction of homes and the displacement of families.
5. In the final lines of the poem, Levertov asks what can be done to stop the bitterness and suffering caused by war. She suggests that we must "plant new trees" and "sow new seeds," but she also acknowledges that this will not be easy.
Overall, "Bitter Fruit Tree" is a powerful indictment of the Vietnam War, and it serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of war on innocent civilians.