Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Denise Levertov’s poem "The Secret" delicately captures the essence of poetic discovery and the ephemeral nature of understanding. Through a simple yet profound narrative, Levertov explores themes of revelation, the impact of poetry, and the beauty of transient realizations.

The poem opens with the casual yet momentous discovery by two girls: "Two girls discover / the secret of life / in a sudden line of / poetry." This immediate revelation sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that profound insights can emerge spontaneously and unexpectedly from poetry. The "secret of life," though left undefined, is portrayed as a moment of clarity or enlightenment that these young girls experience through a line of verse.

Levertov then shifts to her own perspective as the poet: "I who don't know the / secret wrote / the line." This admission is both humble and significant, as it highlights the mysterious and often unintentional nature of artistic creation. The poet acknowledges that she herself does not possess the secret that her poetry has apparently revealed to the girls, emphasizing the idea that the meaning and impact of poetry can transcend the intentions of the poet.

The indirect communication of the discovery is notable: "They / told me / (through a third person) / they had found it / but not what it was / not even / what line it was." The indirectness of this revelation underscores the elusive and subjective nature of understanding. The girls' inability to specify the line or articulate the secret further emphasizes that the essence of their discovery is more about the experience and less about the concrete details.

Levertov muses on the fleeting nature of such revelations: "No doubt / by now, more than a week / later, they have forgotten / the secret, / the line, the name of / the poem." This reflection on the girls' likely forgetfulness speaks to the transient nature of insight. Moments of clarity and revelation often fade, yet their impact can linger in subtle ways.

The poet’s admiration for the girls is palpable: "I love them / for finding what / I can't find, / and for loving me / for the line I wrote, / and for forgetting it / so that / a thousand times, till death / finds them, they may / discover it again, in other / lines / in other / happenings." Levertov expresses deep affection and appreciation for the girls' capacity to find meaning and for their ability to love the poet for her creation. The cycle of forgetting and rediscovery is celebrated here, suggesting that the joy and significance of such moments lie in their continual recurrence.

The poem concludes with a broader contemplation: "And for / wanting to know it, / for / assuming there is / such a secret, yes, / for that / most of all." This final reflection honors the girls' innate desire to seek and believe in a secret of life, recognizing this quest as a fundamental and beautiful aspect of the human experience. The assumption that there is a profound secret to be discovered is, in itself, a testament to the human spirit's yearning for meaning.

"The Secret" by Denise Levertov is a tender and insightful meditation on the nature of poetic revelation and the human quest for understanding. Through her narrative, Levertov celebrates the ephemeral yet powerful moments of discovery that poetry can inspire, and the enduring beauty of seeking and believing in life's hidden truths. The poem gently reminds us that the pursuit of meaning, and the joy found in such moments of clarity, are treasures in their own right.

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