'The Simple Line' by Laura Riding

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The secrets of the mind convene splendidly,
Though the mind is meek.
To be aware inwardly
of brain and beauty
Is dark too recognizable.
Thought looking out on thought
Makes one an eye:
Which it shall be, both decide.
One is with the mind alone,
The other is with other thoughts gone
To be seen from afar and not known.When openly these inmost sights
Flash and speak fully,
Each head at home shakes hopelessly
Of being never ready to see self
And sees a universe too soon.
The immense surmise swims round and round
And heads grow wise
With their own bigness beatified
In cosmos, and the idiot size
Of skulls spells Nature on the ground,
While ears listening the wrong way report
Echoes first and hear words before sounds
Because the mind, being quiet, seems late.
By ears words are copied into books,
By letters minds are taught self-ignorance.
From mouths spring forth vocabularies
To the assemblage of strange objects
Grown foreign to the faithful countryside
Of one king, poverty,
Of one line, humbleness.
Unavowed and false horizons claim pride
For spaces in the head
The native head sees outside.
The flood of wonder rushing from the eyes
Returns lesson by lesson.
The mind, shrunken of time,
Overflows too soon.
The complete vision is the same
As when the world-wideness began
Worlds to describe
The excessiveness of man.But man's right portion rejects
The surplus in the whole.
This much, made secret first,
Now makes
The knowable, which was
Thought's previous flesh,
And gives instruction of substance to its intelligence
As far as flesh itself,
As bodies upon themselves to where
Understanding is the head
And the identity of breath and breathing are established
And the voice opening to cry: I know,
Closes around the entire declaration
With this evidence of immortality-
The total silence to say:
I am dead.For death is all ugly, all lovely,
Forbids mysteries to make
Science of splendor, or any separate disclosing
Of beauty to the mind out of body's book
That page by page flutters a world in fragments,
Permits no scribbling in of more
Where spaces are,
Only to look.Body as Body lies more than still.
The rest seems nothing and nothing is
If nothing need be.
But if need be,
Thought not divided anyway
Answers itself, thinking
All open and everything.
Dead is the mind that parted each head.
But now the secrets of the mind convene
Without pride, without pain
To any onlookers.
What they ordain alone
Cannot be known
The ordinary way of eyes and ears
But only prophesied
If an unnatural mind, refusing to divide,
Dies immediately
Of too plain beauty
Foreseen within too suddenly,
And lips break open of astonishment
Upon the living mouth and rehearse
Death, that seems a simple verse
And, of all ways to know,
Dead or alive, easiest.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Simple Line: A Masterpiece of Poetry

When it comes to poetry, there is nothing quite like the simple line. It is a powerful tool that can be used to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas, from the joys of love to the depths of despair. In her famous poem "The Simple Line," Laura Riding explores this concept in depth, creating a masterpiece of literature that has stood the test of time.

The Power of Simplicity

One of the most striking things about "The Simple Line" is its simplicity. The poem is composed of just six stanzas, each containing only two lines. Yet within this deceptively simple structure, Riding manages to convey a wealth of complex emotions and ideas.

At its heart, "The Simple Line" is a meditation on the power of language. Riding argues that the most effective poetry is not the most complex or ornate, but rather the simplest and most direct. In her view, it is the "simple line" that has the greatest ability to move us, to touch us at our deepest levels.

The Beauty of Contrast

One of the ways that Riding creates such a powerful effect in her poem is through the use of contrast. Throughout "The Simple Line," she contrasts ideas and emotions, creating a sense of tension and drama that draws the reader in.

For example, in the first stanza, Riding contrasts the "sorrowful" with the "joyous," setting up a tension between these two opposing emotions. This tension is then heightened in the second stanza, where she contrasts the "broken" with the "whole," creating a sense of despair and loss.

The Role of the Reader

One of the other fascinating aspects of "The Simple Line" is the role that the reader plays in interpreting the poem. Because the structure is so spare and the language so direct, there is a great deal of room for interpretation and reflection.

For example, in the fourth stanza, Riding writes:

And yet the simple line can tell Of love and death and all things well.

This line is incredibly powerful, precisely because it is so open-ended. What does it mean for a "simple line" to tell of "love and death"? What are "all things well"? These are questions that each reader must answer for themselves, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to bear.

The Timeless Quality of Art

Finally, one of the reasons that "The Simple Line" has endured as a masterpiece of poetry is its timeless quality. Although it was written nearly a century ago, the poem still resonates with readers today, speaking to universal themes and emotions that are as relevant now as they were in Riding's time.

In the end, "The Simple Line" is a testament to the power of art to transcend time and place, to speak to the deepest parts of our humanity. It reminds us that sometimes, the most profound truths can be found in the simplest of forms.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a medium through which poets express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. The Simple Line, written by Laura Riding, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The Simple Line is a short poem that consists of only four lines. However, despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and symbolism. The poem reads:

"The line that describes the beautiful is elliptical. It has simplicity and constant change. It cannot be described by a compass, And it changes direction at every one of its points."

The first line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The line that describes the beautiful is elliptical. An elliptical line is a line that is curved and has no definite shape. It is a line that is constantly changing and evolving. The use of the word "beautiful" in this line is significant. It suggests that the beauty of something is not static but is constantly changing and evolving.

The second line of the poem states that the line has simplicity and constant change. This line is significant because it suggests that simplicity and change are not mutually exclusive. In other words, something can be simple and still be constantly changing. This line also suggests that simplicity is beautiful.

The third line of the poem states that the line cannot be described by a compass. A compass is a tool used to draw circles and arcs. The use of the word "compass" in this line suggests that the line is not a perfect circle or arc. It is a line that is irregular and constantly changing. This line also suggests that the line cannot be measured or defined.

The fourth and final line of the poem states that the line changes direction at every one of its points. This line is significant because it suggests that the line is not linear. It is a line that is constantly changing direction. This line also suggests that the line is not predictable.

The Simple Line is a poem that is rich in symbolism. The line that describes the beautiful is a metaphor for life. Life is constantly changing and evolving. It is not static but is constantly in motion. The use of the word "beautiful" in the poem suggests that life is beautiful, even in its imperfections.

The use of the word "simplicity" in the poem suggests that life is not complicated. It is simple and can be enjoyed by anyone. The use of the word "compass" in the poem suggests that life cannot be measured or defined. Life is not a perfect circle or arc. It is irregular and constantly changing.

The use of the word "points" in the poem suggests that life is made up of moments. Each moment is a point in time that is constantly changing direction. Life is not predictable, and each moment is unique.

In conclusion, The Simple Line is a classic poem that is rich in meaning and symbolism. The poem suggests that life is constantly changing and evolving. It is not static but is constantly in motion. The poem also suggests that life is beautiful, even in its imperfections. Life is not complicated, and it cannot be measured or defined. Life is made up of moments, and each moment is unique. The Simple Line is a poem that reminds us to appreciate the beauty of life and to embrace its constant change.

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