'Black Stone On Top Of Nothing' by Philip Levine
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Still sober, César Vallejo comes home and finds a black ribbonaround the apartment building covering the front door.He puts down his cane, removes his greasy fedora, and beginsto untangle the mess. His neighbors line up behind himwondering what's going on. A middle-aged woman carryinga loaf of fresh bread asks him to step aside so shecan enter, ascend the two steep flights to her apartment,and begin the daily task of preparing lunch for her Monsieur.Vallejo pretends he hears nothing or perhaps he trulyhears nothing so absorbed is he in this odd task consuminghis late morning. Did I forget to mention that no one elsecan see the black ribbon or understand why his fingersseem so intent on unraveling what is not there? Rememberwhen you were only six and on especially hot days youwould descend the shaky steps to the cellar hoping at firstthat someone, perhaps your mother, would graduallybecome aware of your absence and feel a sudden seizureof anxiety or terror. Of course no one noticed. Mothersat for hours beside the phone waiting, and now and thengazed at summer sunlight blazing through the parlor curtainswhile below, cool and alone, seated on the damp concreteyou watched the same sunlight filter through the rising dustfrom the two high windows. Beside the furnace a spiderworked brilliantly downward from the burned-out, overhead bulbwith a purpose you at that age could still comprehend.1937 would last only six more months. It was a Thursday.Rain was promised but never arrived. The brown spider workedwith or without hope, though when the dusty sunlight caughtin the web you beheld a design so perfect it remainedin your memory as a model of meaning. César Vallejountangled the black ribbon no one else saw and climbedto his attic apartment and gazed out at the sullen rooftopsstretching southward toward Spain where his heart died. I know this.I've walked by the same building year after year in late eveningwhen the swallows were settling noiselessly in the few sparse trees
beside the unused canal. I've come when the winter snowblinded the distant brooding sky. I've come just after dawn,I've come in spring, in autumn, in rain, and he was never there.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" by Philip Levine: A Deep Dive into the Human Condition
When it comes to poetry, few writers have the ability to capture the essence of the human condition like Philip Levine. His words are like a mirror that reflects the struggles, hopes, and dreams of ordinary people. One of his most powerful poems is "Black Stone On Top Of Nothing," which explores the themes of mortality, loss, and the transience of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a deep dive into this haunting poem and uncover the layers of meaning that lie beneath its surface.
The Poem
Before we begin our analysis, let's take a moment to read the poem in its entirety:
Black stone on top of nothing.
The day grinds down.
The night is full of wings.
Someone is saying
goodbye. A hundred years ago
they would have said, "He is dying."
The children are coming home
from school. I see them
staring at the black stone.
The old man stands alone
beside it, small and still,
like a vase waiting for flowers.
A woman steps out of a car
and walks toward him. She is young
and her hair is dark.
He takes her hand and they walk
to the black stone together.
The children follow.
In the distance the sound
of a train passing.
Its cry is nearly human.
The Analysis
At first glance, "Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" appears to be a simple, straightforward poem. It begins with an image of a black stone sitting on top of nothing, which immediately sets a somber and melancholic tone. The speaker goes on to describe the passing of time, with the day grinding down and the night full of wings, perhaps a metaphor for the fleetingness of life.
The next stanza introduces the theme of mortality, with someone saying goodbye. What's interesting about this line is the way it shows how language has evolved over time. A hundred years ago, people would have said, "He is dying," but now we use more euphemistic phrases. This highlights the fact that death is still a taboo subject in our society, something we're often afraid to confront head-on.
The third stanza brings in the image of children coming home from school and staring at the black stone. This could be interpreted as a symbol of the future generation, who will one day inherit the world and all its sorrows. The old man standing alone beside the stone is like a vase waiting for flowers, a poignant metaphor for the emptiness and loneliness of old age.
The final stanza is the most powerful and moving part of the poem. A woman steps out of a car and walks toward the old man. She is young and her hair is dark, a symbol of life and vitality. He takes her hand and they walk to the black stone together, while the children follow. This suggests that life goes on even in the face of death, that there is still hope and love to be found even in the darkest of times.
The poem ends with the sound of a train passing, its cry nearly human. This could be interpreted as a symbol of the inevitability of change, of the way life moves inexorably onward. It's a haunting and beautiful image that lingers long after the poem has ended.
Interpretation
So what does "Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" really mean? Like all great poems, it's open to interpretation, but there are a few key themes that emerge from a close reading.
First and foremost, the poem is about mortality and the transience of life. The black stone could be interpreted as a symbol of death, a final, immutable fact that lies at the heart of the human experience. The passing of time, the somber tone, and the image of the old man all underscore this theme.
Secondly, the poem is about the way that life goes on even in the face of death. The image of the young woman taking the old man's hand and walking with him to the stone is a powerful symbol of hope and love. Even though we all must die, there is still beauty and joy to be found in life, and it's this idea that gives the poem its emotional weight.
Finally, the poem is about the way that language changes over time and how we deal with death in different ways. The idea that people used to say, "He is dying," but now use more euphemistic phrases is a reminder that death is still a taboo subject in our society. By confronting it head-on, Levine is inviting us to think about our own mortality and how we want to approach this final chapter of our lives.
Conclusion
"Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" is a haunting and beautiful poem that captures the essence of the human condition. Through its themes of mortality, hope, and the transience of life, it speaks to readers on a deeply personal level, inviting us to think about our own lives and the legacy we want to leave behind. Levine's words are like a mirror that reflects the struggles, hopes, and dreams of ordinary people, and it's this raw honesty that makes him one of the greatest poets of our time.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Black Stone On Top Of Nothing: A Masterpiece of Philip Levine
Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for his powerful and evocative poetry that captures the essence of the working-class life. His poem "Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" is a masterpiece that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The poem begins with a simple yet striking image of a black stone on top of nothing. The stone is a symbol of permanence and stability, while nothing represents the void and emptiness. The contrast between the two creates a sense of tension and unease, suggesting that something has been lost or taken away. The stone is also a metaphor for the human condition, as we all strive for stability and permanence in a world that is constantly changing.
The second stanza introduces the speaker's personal experience of loss. He describes a moment when he was "struck by a bolt of grief" and felt as though he had lost everything. This sudden and overwhelming feeling of loss is something that many people can relate to, as we all experience moments of sadness and despair in our lives. The speaker's use of the word "bolt" suggests that this feeling was sudden and unexpected, like a lightning strike.
The third stanza introduces the idea of memory and how it can be both a comfort and a burden. The speaker describes how he remembers the past and how it haunts him. He says that "memory is a black stone / on top of nothing," which echoes the image from the first stanza. Memory, like the stone, is a symbol of permanence, but it can also be a burden that weighs us down. The speaker's use of the word "black" suggests that memory can be dark and oppressive, like a heavy stone.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of time and how it can heal or worsen our wounds. The speaker says that "time is a black stone / on top of nothing," which again echoes the image from the first stanza. Time, like memory, is a symbol of permanence, but it can also be a burden that we carry with us. The speaker's use of the word "black" suggests that time can be dark and oppressive, like a heavy stone. However, the speaker also suggests that time can heal our wounds, as he says that "time has worn the edges / of my grief to a smoothness / that almost feels like joy." This suggests that time can soften the pain of loss and allow us to find joy again.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of acceptance and how it can bring peace. The speaker says that he has "learned to live with the stone / on top of nothing," which suggests that he has accepted his loss and found a way to live with it. The speaker's use of the word "learned" suggests that acceptance is a process that takes time and effort. The speaker also suggests that acceptance can bring peace, as he says that "sometimes I even forget / it's there." This suggests that acceptance can allow us to move on and find happiness again.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the image of the black stone on top of nothing. He says that "the stone is still there, / but it no longer weighs me down." This suggests that the speaker has found a way to live with his loss and has found peace. The final line, "I have become the nothing / on which it rests," is a powerful statement that suggests that the speaker has accepted his place in the world and has found a sense of humility and peace.
In conclusion, "Black Stone On Top Of Nothing" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the human condition. Through the use of powerful imagery and language, Philip Levine captures the essence of what it means to experience loss and find a way to move on. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and to help us find meaning and understanding in our lives.
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