--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look…" description: "\"Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look. Looking's a way of being: one becomes, sometimes, a pair of eyes walking. Walking wherever looking takes one...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/denise-levertov-4487_breathing_looking-walking-being-i-look-and-look-lo_3143404.png" --- # Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look. Looking's a way… ![“Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look. Looking's a way of being: one becomes, sometimes, a pair of eyes walking. Walking wherever looking takes one. The eyes dig and burrow into the world. They touch, fanfare, howl, madrigal, clamor. World and the past of it, not only visible present, solid and…” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/denise-levertov-4487_breathing_looking-walking-being-i-look-and-look-lo_3143404.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/denise-levertov-4487_breathing_looking-walking-being-i-look-and-look-lo_3143404.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a79/denise-levertov-4487_breathing_looking-walking-being-i-look-and-look-lo_3143404.png) > “Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look. Looking's a way of being: one becomes, sometimes, a pair of eyes walking. Walking wherever looking takes one. The eyes dig and burrow into the world. They touch, fanfare, howl, madrigal, clamor. World and the past of it, not only visible present, solid and shadow that looks at one looking. And language? Rhythms of echo and interruption? That's a way of breathing. breathing to sustain looking, walking and looking, through the world, in it.” [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. Levertov portrays looking and walking as intertwined acts of perception, where seeing becomes a way of existing and breathing. **In simple terms:** Seeing and moving together shape our experience of the world. Key Takeaway Engage fully with your surroundings. Themes perception movement existence Mood contemplative poetic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - mindful walking - observational meditation - creative writing - nature immersion Key Concepts Phenomenology embodiment language as breath Questions to Reflect On - How does your gaze influence your path? - What does “breathing” through looking feel like? A Different Perspective The abstract language may be hard to apply concretely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Fanfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanfare/) [Interruptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interruptions/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It's funny looking at yourself. You know how it is when you look back at old pictures? It's just funny looking back at yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/it-s-funny-looking-at-yourself-you-know-how-it-is-when-you-look-back/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [“Keep walking. If I look back I am lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/keep-walking-if-i-look-back-i-am-lost/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [If you are looking down while you are walking it is better to walk up hill the ground is nearer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/if-you-are-looking-down-while-you-are-walking-it-is-better-to-walk-up/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [I was walking along looking for somebody, and then suddenly I wasn't anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-walking-along-looking-for-somebody-and-then-suddenly-i-wasn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like what I see when I’m looking at me when I’m walking past the mirror,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-like-what-i-see-when-i-m-looking-at-me-when-i-m-walking-past-the/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [But the problem with looking back when you should be walking ahead is that you usually end up walking into something that hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-hart/but-the-problem-with-looking-back-when-you-should-be-walking-ahead-is/) [Megan Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-hart/) > [So many people are walking around looking so grim all the time. I just never understand why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-boggs/so-many-people-are-walking-around-looking-so-grim-all-the-time-i-just/) [Lindy Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-boggs/) > [“Once you walked away, you had to keep walking and never look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/once-you-walked-away-you-had-to-keep-walking-and-never-look-back/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Basically, what you really want to do is try to engage the viewer's body relation to his thinking and walking and looking, without being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-serra/basically-what-you-really-want-to-do-is-try-to-engage-the-viewer-s/) [Richard Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-serra/) > [I think there is a part of me that's always a little bit like, "Why would I torture myself? Just in case you forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-think-there-is-a-part-of-me-that-s-always-a-little-bit-like-why-2/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [The thing that's interesting about wire walking is that we never get to see it other than looking up. It's like a circus thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zemeckis/the-thing-that-s-interesting-about-wire-walking-is-that-we-never-get/) [Robert Zemeckis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zemeckis/) > [“At first, he only continues walking. Only when I look down on our feet do I realize that we're actually going nowhere. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/at-first-he-only-continues-walking-only-when-i-look-down-on-our-feet/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I like that sense of family in my workplace, having the same pair of eyes to look into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-like-that-sense-of-family-in-my-workplace-having-the-same-pair-of/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [“Eyes often have an implicit censorious power.22 Post a large picture of a pair of eyes at a bus stop (versus a picture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/eyes-often-have-an-implicit-censorious-power-22-post-a-large-picture/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [One Heart Cares For You I Have A Pair Of Eyes But Cannot See You Everyday. I Have A Pair Of Ears But Cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj/one-heart-cares-for-you-i-have-a-pair-of-eyes-but-cannot-see-you/) [Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj/) ## 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 Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Looking, Walking, Being, I look and look. Looking's a way of being: one becomes, sometimes, a pair of eyes walking. Walking wherever looking takes one. The eyes dig and burrow into the world. They touch, fanfare, howl, madrigal, clamor. World and the past of it, not only visible present, solid and shadow that looks at one looking. And language? Rhythms of echo and interruption? 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