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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Denise Levertov’s poem "The Breathing" is a serene and contemplative reflection on the quiet, patient presence of nature and its embodiment of pure, unspoken happiness. Through the use of vivid imagery and a gentle, meditative tone, Levertov captures a moment of profound stillness and contentment in the natural world. The poem begins with the declaration of "An absolute / patience." This sets the tone for the entire piece, suggesting a timeless, unwavering calm that pervades the scene. The use of the word "absolute" emphasizes the completeness and perfection of this patience, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in the stillness. Levertov then paints a tranquil picture of the landscape: "Trees stand / up to their knees in / fog." The image of trees standing in fog creates a sense of quiet endurance and stability. The fog, a gentle, enveloping presence, adds to the atmosphere of stillness and obscurity, suggesting a world softly hidden from view. As the fog "slowly flows / uphill," the motion is almost imperceptible, reinforcing the theme of patience and gradual change. The scene is further detailed with "White / cobwebs, the grass / leaning where deer / have looked for apples." These small, delicate elements highlight the natural interactions and subtle traces of life that persist in the quiet landscape. Levertov extends the scene to the woods: "The woods / from brook to where / the top of the hill looks / over the fog, send up / not one bird." The absence of birds and their song emphasizes the depth of the silence and stillness. The woods are depicted as a vast, continuous expanse, from the brook at the bottom to the hilltop overlooking the fog, further reinforcing the sense of an encompassing calm. The poem concludes with a profound realization: "So absolute, it is / no other than / happiness itself, a breathing / too quiet to hear." This final observation ties together the imagery and the atmosphere of the poem, identifying the pervasive quiet and patience as the essence of happiness. The metaphor of "a breathing / too quiet to hear" captures the subtle, almost imperceptible nature of this happiness, suggesting that true contentment is found in the quiet, patient presence of nature. "The Breathing" by Denise Levertov is a meditation on the serene and enduring beauty of the natural world. Through her use of gentle imagery and a reflective tone, Levertov invites the reader to find solace and happiness in the quiet patience of nature. The poem celebrates the profound stillness and subtle interactions that define the landscape, offering a vision of happiness that is as unobtrusive and enduring as the quiet breath of the world around us.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HAVING INTENDED TO MERELY PICK ON AN OIL COMPANY, THE POEM GOES AWRY by HICOK. BOB BLACK NIKES by HARRYETTE MULLEN ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE SABBATH, 1985, VI by WENDELL BERRY PLANTING TREES by WENDELL BERRY THE OLD ELM TREE BY THE RIVER by WENDELL BERRY |
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