--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A voice from the dark called out, \"The…" description: "\"“A voice from the dark called out, \"The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/denise-levertov-4487_mutual-aid_a-voice-from-the-dark-called-out-the-poe_1163224.jpg" --- # A voice from the dark called out, "The poets must give us… ![“A voice from the dark called out, "The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only the absence of war." But peace, like a poem, is not there ahead of itself, can't be imagined before it is made, can't be known except in the words…” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/denise-levertov-4487_mutual-aid_a-voice-from-the-dark-called-out-the-poe_1163224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/denise-levertov-4487_mutual-aid_a-voice-from-the-dark-called-out-the-poe_1163224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/denise-levertov-4487_mutual-aid_a-voice-from-the-dark-called-out-the-poe_1163224.jpg) > ““A voice from the dark called out, "The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only the absence of war." But peace, like a poem, is not there ahead of itself, can't be imagined before it is made, can't be known except in the words of its making, grammar of justice, syntax of mutual aid. A feeling towards it, dimly sensing a rhythm, is all we have until we begin to utter its metaphors, learning them as we speak. A line of peace might appear if we restructured the sentence our lives are making, revoked its reaffirmation of profit and power, questioned our needs, allowed long pauses. . . . A cadence of peace might balance its weight on that different fulcrum; peace, a presence, an energy field more intense than war, might pulse then, stanza by stanza into the world, each act of living one of its words, each word a vibration of light--facets of the forming crystal.”” [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peace must be actively imagined and spoken into existence through justice, mutual aid, and reshaping societal narratives, not merely awaited as the absence of war. **In simple terms:** Peace requires active creation, not just lack of war. Key Takeaway Speak and act to build peace. Themes peace justice creativity social change Mood hopeful reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational poetic When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - artistic expression - policy reform - education initiatives Key Concepts imagination grammar of justice syntax of mutual aid collective action Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals reshape daily language to foster peace? - What role does art play in redefining societal priorities? A Different Perspective Peace can be elusive without concrete structures and shared commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imagination Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-peace-3340145/) [Like Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-poem-535850/) [Mutual aid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-aid/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-appear-1124096/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets-imagination-3340144/) ## Related quotes > [“from CHAOS? Trust the imagination. Peace is knowing without need for detailed explanation. Joy is openness to possibility. Sing your humming heart free from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/from-chaos-trust-the-imagination-peace-is-knowing-without-need-for/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) > [War should be so engaged in that nothing but peace should appear to be aimed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/war-should-be-so-engaged-in-that-nothing-but-peace-should-appear-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Never speak out of anger, Never act out of fear, Never choose from impatience, But wait... and peace will appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/never-speak-out-of-anger-never-act-out-of-fear-never-choose-from/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [There is something about a bureaucrat that does not like a poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-something-about-a-bureaucrat-that-does-not-like-a-poem/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“There is an Anglo-Saxon form of riddling that plays with the polarities of words like bright and dark, cold and warm, throwing them against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-hausman/there-is-an-anglo-saxon-form-of-riddling-that-plays-with-the/) [Gerald Hausman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-hausman/) > [“I sink into it completely, letting everything else fall away so all that's left is this. A moment like a poem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/i-sink-into-it-completely-letting-everything-else-fall-away-so-all/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) > [“He wanted to tell the baby that Paris was like a poem in stone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/he-wanted-to-tell-the-baby-that-paris-was-like-a-poem-in-stone/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [To declaim freedom verses seems like a poem within a poem; freedom requires guns, it requires arms, but no feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/to-declaim-freedom-verses-seems-like-a-poem-within-a-poem-freedom/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [If you can say the lyrics almost like a poem and they stand up, that's a great thing. Some songs have great lyrics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/if-you-can-say-the-lyrics-almost-like-a-poem-and-they-stand-up-that-s/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [When I'm most deeply involved in my writing, sometimes I do dream about poetry, and occasionally I wake up from a dream with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/when-i-m-most-deeply-involved-in-my-writing-sometimes-i-do-dream/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [Don’t you think every face tells its own story? Like a book? More like a poem. If you study it long enough, you’ll soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-tsukiyama/don-t-you-think-every-face-tells-its-own-story-like-a-book-more-like/) [Gail Tsukiyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-tsukiyama/) > [I like when a poem ends on its "receipts," meaning it gives me something tactile or tangible to dwell on as I exit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-joseph/i-like-when-a-poem-ends-on-its-receipts-meaning-it-gives-me-something/) [Allison Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-joseph/) > [“He looks like a poem. One of those mournfully beautiful ones with short, unfamiliar words that sound ethereal when spoken and completely nonsensical when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velvetoscar/he-looks-like-a-poem-one-of-those-mournfully-beautiful-ones-with/) [Velvetoscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velvetoscar/) > [Poetry is like a puzzle-solving strategy for me. I like to poem my way through tricky questions and ideas. That's about the only consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/poetry-is-like-a-puzzle-solving-strategy-for-me-i-like-to-poem-my-way/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [“I think he's wonderful and strange and kind of like a poem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitley-strieber/i-think-he-s-wonderful-and-strange-and-kind-of-like-a-poem/) [Whitley Strieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitley-strieber/) ## More by Denise Levertov > [Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The artist must create himself or be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-artist-must-create-himself-or-be-born-again/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-believe-every-space-and-comma-is-a-living-part-of-the-poem-and-has/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Each part of speech a spark awaiting redemption, each a virtue, a power in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/each-part-of-speech-a-spark-awaiting-redemption-each-a-virtue-a-power/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [If woman is inconstant, good, I am faithful to ebb and flow, I fall in season and now is a time of ripening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/if-woman-is-inconstant-good-i-am-faithful-to-ebb-and-flow-i-fall-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Putting his hope in certain death, lowering his head again to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/putting-his-hope-in-certain-death-lowering-his-head-again-to-the-grass/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“I am, a shadow that grows longer as the sun moves, drawn out on a thread of wonder. If I bear burdens they begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-am-a-shadow-that-grows-longer-as-the-sun-moves-drawn-out-on-a/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [In city, in suburb, in forest, no way to stretch out the arms - so if you would grow, go straight up or deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/in-city-in-suburb-in-forest-no-way-to-stretch-out-the-arms-so-if-you/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I like to find what's not found at once, but lies within something of another nature, in repose, distinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-like-to-find-what-s-not-found-at-once-but-lies-within-something-of/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [There is no savor more sweet, more salt than to be glad to be what, woman, and who, myself, I am...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/there-is-no-savor-more-sweet-more-salt-than-to-be-glad-to-be-what/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [This wild night, gathering the washing as if it were flowers animal vines twisting over theline and slapping my face lightly, soundless merriment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/this-wild-night-gathering-the-washing-as-if-it-were-flowers-animal/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I see him across the street, the blind man, and now he says he can find his way. He knows where he is going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-see-him-across-the-street-the-blind-man-and-now-he-says-he-can-find/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) [Explore all 110 Denise Levertov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## More Mutual aid quotes > [Solidarity is not an act of charity, but mutual aid between forces fighting for the same objective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samora-machel/solidarity-is-not-an-act-of-charity-but-mutual-aid-between-forces/) [Samora Machel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samora-machel/) > [The Europeans had made two promises to the United States if Marshall Plan help was forthcoming. The first promise was maximum self-help on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-europeans-had-made-two-promises-to-the-united-states-if-marshall/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [The foundation of a nation is self-aid, mutual aid and public aid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoshihide-suga/the-foundation-of-a-nation-is-self-aid-mutual-aid-and-public-aid/) [Yoshihide Suga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoshihide-suga/) > [“For over a century and a half, anarchists have been arguing that coercive, hierarchical organization (as embodied in government and corporations) is not equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bufe/for-over-a-century-and-a-half-anarchists-have-been-arguing-that/) [Chaz Bufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bufe/) > [By mutual confidence and mutual aid - great deeds are done, and great discoveries made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/by-mutual-confidence-and-mutual-aid-great-deeds-are-done-and-great/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“In an attempt to convey their discontent, employees did something strange: exactly what they were told to do, following the formal rules to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-cederstrom/in-an-attempt-to-convey-their-discontent-employees-did-something/) [Carl Cederstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-cederstrom/) > [Adam Smith actually took all his best ideas and lines from sources from medieval Persia. But one thing he doesn't take is the underlying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/adam-smith-actually-took-all-his-best-ideas-and-lines-from-sources/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [Man is appealed to be guided in his acts, not merely by love, which is always personal, or at best tribal, but by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kropotkin/man-is-appealed-to-be-guided-in-his-acts-not-merely-by-love-which-is/) [Peter Kropotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kropotkin/) > [“In a highly popular statement, we are told that the family has progressed from institution to companionship. But, as Ortega y Gasset has written,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-nisbet/in-a-highly-popular-statement-we-are-told-that-the-family-has/) [Robert A. Nisbet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-nisbet/) > [“Derived from the Greek word anarchos , "without authority," anarchism denies law and considers property to be tyranny. Anarchists believe that human corruption results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siva-vaidhyanathan/derived-from-the-greek-word-anarchos-without-authority-anarchism/) [Siva Vaidhyanathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siva-vaidhyanathan/) > [People are actually very good at being communists in the sense that they instantly abandon capitalism, that they love these relationships of mutual aid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/people-are-actually-very-good-at-being-communists-in-the-sense-that/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [Odonianism is anarchism. Not the bomb-in-the-pocket stuff, which is terrorism, whatever name it tries to dignify itself with, not the social-Darwinist economic 'libertarianism' of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/odonianism-is-anarchism-not-the-bomb-in-the-pocket-stuff-which-is/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Ethically they had arrived at the conclusion that man's supremacy over lower animals meant not that the former should prey upon the latter, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/ethically-they-had-arrived-at-the-conclusion-that-man-s-supremacy/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The Occupy movement did create spontaneously communities that taught people something: you can be in a supportive community of mutual aid and cooperation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-occupy-movement-did-create-spontaneously-communities-that-taught/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“We have nothing but our freedom. We have nothing to give you but your own freedom. We have no law but the single principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/we-have-nothing-but-our-freedom-we-have-nothing-to-give-you-but-your/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) [Browse all 33 Mutual aid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-aid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A voice from the dark called out, \"The poets must give us imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar imagination of disaster. Peace, not only the absence of war.\" But peace, like a poem, is not there ahead of itself, can't be imagined before it is made, can't be known except in the words of its making, grammar of justice, syntax of mutual aid. A feeling towards it, dimly sensing a rhythm, is all we have until we begin to utter its metaphors, learning them as we speak. A line of peace might appear if we restructured the sentence our lives are making, revoked its reaffirmation of profit and power, questioned our needs, allowed long pauses. . . . 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