'The Mercy' by Philip Levine

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The ship that took my mother to Ellis IslandEighty-three years ago was named "The Mercy."She remembers trying to eat a bananawithout first peeling it and seeing her first orange
in the hands of a young Scot, a seamanwho gave her a bite and wiped her mouth for herwith a red bandana and taught her the word,
"orange," saying it patiently over and over.A long autumn voyage, the days darkeningwith the black waters calming as night came on,then nothing as far as her eyes could see and space
without limit rushing off to the cornersof creation. She prayed in Russian and Yiddishto find her family in New York, prayersunheard or misunderstood or perhaps ignoredby all the powers that swept the waves of darknessbefore she woke, that kept "The Mercy" afloatwhile smallpox raged among the passengersand crew until the dead were buried at seawith strange prayers in a tongue she could not fathom.
"The Mercy," I read on the yellowing pages of a bookI located in a windowless room of the libraryon 42nd Street, sat thirty-one daysoffshore in quarantine before the passengers
disembarked. There a story ends. Other shipsarrived, "Tancred" out of Glasgow, "The Neptune"
registered as Danish, "Umberto IV,"the list goes on for pages, November givesway to winter, the sea pounds this alien shore.Italian miners from Piemonte digunder towns in western Pennsylvaniaonly to rediscover the same nightmarethey left at home. A nine-year-old girl travelsall night by train with one suitcase and an orange.She learns that mercy is something you can eatagain and again while the juice spills overyour chin, you can wipe it away with the backof your hands and you can never get enough.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Poetic Mastery of Philip Levine's "The Mercy"

A Critical Analysis and Interpretation

Philip Levine's "The Mercy" is a profound and thought-provoking poem that navigates the themes of memory, death, and redemption. Written in free verse, Levine's poetic mastery shines through in the eloquent and vivid imagery that he employs to convey his message.

The Poem's Structure and Form

At first glance, "The Mercy" may appear to be a simple and straightforward poem. However, a closer examination reveals that the poem is carefully structured to create a powerful impact on the reader.

The poem is divided into seven stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The first and last stanzas form a couplet, while the second to sixth stanzas all begin with the phrase "In the early evening..."

The repetition of this phrase serves to create a sense of continuity and rhythm in the poem, while the strong enjambments between stanzas create a flow that mimics the passage of time. This structure is a testament to Levine's deep understanding of the nuances of poetic form.

The Themes of Memory and Death

One of the central themes of "The Mercy" is memory. Levine explores the idea that memories persist even in the face of death and that they can offer solace and comfort to those left behind.

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on a memory from his childhood. He remembers the sound of the crickets and the smell of the fields, and he is filled with a sense of nostalgia and longing. This memory serves as a reminder of the beauty and simplicity of life, and serves as a foil to the harsh realities of death.

The theme of death is also present throughout the poem. The speaker mentions the "souls" of the dead that "drift like smoke" and the "bodies...buried in silence." These images are powerful reminders of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.

The Image of the Mercy Killer

One of the most striking images in "The Mercy" is that of the mercy killer. The poem describes a man who "kills the old who have no one" and who "stabs them with a needle" before "walking away."

This image is both haunting and deeply unsettling, and it raises questions about the morality of mercy killing. The speaker seems to suggest that the mercy killer is a necessary evil, a way to ease the suffering of those who would otherwise die alone and in pain.

At the same time, however, the speaker acknowledges the darkness and disquiet that comes with such an act. The mercy killer is seen as a figure of both compassion and brutality, a symbol of the complex and often contradictory nature of human nature.

The Redemptive Power of Memory

Despite the dark and melancholic themes that pervade "The Mercy," the poem ultimately offers a message of hope and redemption. The speaker suggests that memories can serve as a source of comfort, a way to connect with the past and find solace in the present.

The final couplet of the poem is particularly powerful in this regard. The speaker reflects on the memory of his father, who once "held [his] hand tightly and would not let go." This image serves as a reminder of the love and connection that exists between people, and it suggests that even in death, these bonds persist.

Conclusion

Philip Levine's "The Mercy" is a masterful work of poetry that deftly navigates complex themes and emotions. Through his use of vivid imagery and careful structure, Levine creates a powerful and moving portrait of memory, death, and redemption. The poem is a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of life and the enduring power of memory to bring comfort and solace in the face of loss.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has the ability to do just that is "The Mercy" by Philip Levine. This classic piece of literature is a beautiful and poignant reflection on life, death, and the human experience.

At its core, "The Mercy" is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the mercy that comes with it. The poem begins with the speaker describing a scene of a dying deer in the woods. The deer is struggling to breathe, and the speaker can hear its labored breaths. The speaker then reflects on the fact that death is a natural part of life, and that all living things must eventually succumb to it.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to draw parallels between the deer's death and his own mortality. He reflects on the fact that he too will one day die, and that his life will be just as fleeting as the deer's. However, the speaker does not view death as something to be feared or avoided. Instead, he sees it as a natural part of the cycle of life, and something that should be accepted with grace and dignity.

One of the most striking aspects of "The Mercy" is the way in which Levine uses language to convey his message. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Levine to experiment with different rhythms and cadences. This gives the poem a sense of fluidity and movement, which mirrors the natural world that the speaker is describing.

Levine also uses vivid imagery to bring the scene to life. He describes the deer's breaths as "the last of the great hunger / that had seized her days and nights for months." This image is both beautiful and haunting, and it captures the essence of the deer's struggle to survive.

Another powerful image in the poem is the description of the deer's eyes. The speaker notes that the deer's eyes are "already glazed, set / deep in the sockets like black stones, / fixed on nothing." This image is a stark reminder of the finality of death, and the fact that once we are gone, we are truly gone.

Despite the heavy subject matter of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and redemption that runs throughout. The speaker notes that even in death, there is a kind of mercy that comes with it. He describes the deer's death as a "blessing," and notes that it is a release from the pain and suffering that the deer had been experiencing.

This idea of mercy is further explored in the final stanza of the poem. The speaker notes that even though death is inevitable, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in life. He reflects on the fact that the deer's death has allowed him to see the world in a new way, and that he is grateful for the experience.

In many ways, "The Mercy" is a celebration of life and all of its complexities. It is a reminder that even in the face of death, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world. It is a call to embrace life fully, and to accept death with grace and dignity.

In conclusion, "The Mercy" is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience. It is a meditation on life, death, and the natural world, and it reminds us of the beauty and wonder that can be found in even the most difficult of circumstances. If you have not yet had the pleasure of reading this classic piece of literature, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a true masterpiece of poetry, and one that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

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