The Breathing ~ A Poem by Denise Levertov

The Breathing

Denise Levertov

An absolute
patience.
Trees stand
up to their knees in
fog. The fog
slowly flows
uphill.
White
cobwebs, the grass
leaning where deer
have looked for apples.
The woods
from brook to where
the top of the hill looks
over the fog, send up
not one bird.
So absolute, it is
no other than
happiness itself, a breathing
too quiet to hear.

Source

Reflection

Levertov describes an “absolute patience”—a type of happiness that isn’t loud or performative, but rather a “breathing too quiet to hear.” To me, this is a sophisticated critique of our contemporary obsession with visibility. While we are constantly “sending up birds” (or posts, or emails) to prove our existence, the woods in the poem remain silent and whole. It’s a gentle reminder that happiness isn’t always a peak experience; sometimes, it is simply the quiet, rhythmic presence of being exactly where you are, even when the view is obscured.

As you read this poem, ask yourself:

In a society that demands constant noise, what parts of your “inner woods” are you allowing to breathe in absolute, unhurried silence?