What can the reader learn about by studying the implicit meanings of words in a poem?

I think the implicit meanings of words in poetry show that not everything has to be spelled out in black and whites  but such things as metaphors can be used, and symbols of things like a casket and death and  irony to make light of serious things to point out the absurdity of situations. A metaphor could be like comparing life to a hockey game wherein one game is lost but with persistence, the next game can be won and also life can be like a tree in winter that it looks dead but actually it gives birth to beautiful blossoms in the spring for example.