Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "Open Secret" contemplates the nature of a distant, enigmatic mountain and the paradoxical sense of connection felt despite never having physically approached it. Through reflective and serene imagery, Levertov explores themes of perception, reverence, and the intrinsic power of untouched, mystical places.

The poem begins with a tentative admission: "Perhaps one day I shall let myself / approach the mountain— / hear the streams which must flow down it, / lie in a flowering meadow, even / touch my hand to the snow." This opening stanza expresses a hypothetical desire to experience the mountain directly, invoking a sense of what such an encounter might entail: hearing streams, lying in meadows, and touching snow. Yet, the repetition of "perhaps" signals uncertainty and hesitation.

Levertov quickly clarifies this hesitation: "Perhaps not. I have no longing to do so." This statement is surprising, given the detailed and sensory imagery of the previous lines. The speaker confesses a lack of desire to physically engage with the mountain, implying a different kind of relationship with it.

The poem continues with the speaker reflecting on past experiences: "I have visited other mountain heights. / This one is not, I think, to be known / by close scrutiny, by touch of foot or hand / or entire outstretched body; not by any / familiarity of behavior, any acquaintance / with its geology or the scarring roads / humans have carved in its flanks." Here, Levertov distinguishes this particular mountain from others the speaker has visited. She suggests that its essence and power are not accessible through conventional means of exploration and physical interaction. The "scarring roads" carved by humans represent intrusive attempts to dominate or understand nature, which, in this case, are deemed unnecessary and even counterproductive.

Levertov articulates where the true power of the mountain lies: "This mountain’s power / lies in the open secret of its remote / apparition, silvery low-relief / coming and going moonlike at the horizon, / always loftier, lonelier, than I ever remember." The "open secret" captures the paradoxical nature of the mountain’s allure—its power is in its distance and the mysterious, almost ethereal way it appears on the horizon. Comparing it to the moon emphasizes its inaccessibility and perpetual presence, something that can be observed but not easily reached or understood.

The final lines, "always loftier, lonelier, than I ever remember," suggest that the mountain's grandeur and isolation grow in the speaker's memory and imagination. Each sighting reinforces its mystical, untouchable quality, elevating it beyond a mere geographical feature to a symbol of sublime beauty and existential contemplation.

In "Open Secret," Levertov explores the idea that some aspects of nature, and perhaps life itself, are meant to be appreciated from a distance, their mysteries and powers preserved by our inability to fully grasp them. The poem suggests that intimacy does not always require physical closeness; sometimes, the deepest connections are felt through reverent observation and acknowledgment of an enduring, untouchable presence. Through her thoughtful and elegant language, Levertov invites readers to consider the value of maintaining a respectful distance from the mysteries that inspire awe and wonder.

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