'Those Were The Days' by Philip Levine

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The sun came up before breakfast,perfectly round and yellow, and wedressed in the soft light and shook outour long blond curls and waitedfor Maid to brush them flat and placethe part just where it belonged.We came down the carpeted stairsone step at a time, in single file,gleaming in our sailor suits, twofour year olds with unscratched kneesand scrubbed teeth. Breakfast cameon silver dishes with silver coversand was set in table center, and Motherhanded out the portions of eggsand bacon, toast and juice. We couldhear the ocean, not far off, and boatsfiring up their engines, and the shoutsof couples in white on the tennis courts.I thought, Yes, this is the beginningof another summer, and it will go onuntil the sun tires of us or the moonrises in its place on a silvered dawnand no one wakens. My brother flunghis fork on the polished wooden floorand cried out, "My eggs are cold, cold!"and turned his plate over. I laughedout loud, and Mother slapped my face,and when I cleared my eyes the tablewas bare of even a simple white cloth,and the steaming plates had vanished.My brother said, "It's time," and westruggled into our galoshes and snappedthem up, slumped into our pea coats,one year older now and on our wayto the top through the freezing rainsof the end of November, lunch boxesunder our arms, tight fists pocketed,out the door and down the front stoop,heads bent low, tacking into the wind.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Those Were The Days: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Philip Levine, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, has contributed immensely to the world of literature through his poignant and evocative poetry. His works often revolve around the theme of social injustices and the struggles of the working class. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the masterful poetry of Philip Levine, specifically his poem, "Those Were The Days."

Context and Background

"Those Were The Days" is a part of Philip Levine's collection of poems, "What Work Is," which was published in 1991. This collection of poems is a reflection of Levine's own experiences and observations of the working-class life in Detroit, Michigan.

Born and raised in Detroit, Levine was no stranger to the struggles of the working-class people. He worked in various manual labor jobs such as a factory worker, a gas station attendant, and a truck driver. This firsthand experience of the difficult and strenuous life of a working-class individual is reflected in his poetry. His poems often depict the harsh realities of the working-class life, including poverty, discrimination, and societal pressures.

Analysis

"Those Were The Days" is a poem that evokes feelings of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time. The poem starts with the speaker reminiscing about his childhood and the days when he used to play with his friends in the streets. The speaker describes the games they used to play, such as "stickball" and "stoopball," and how those games brought them together.

The poem then transitions to the present, where the speaker is now an adult and living in a different city. He reflects on how the world has changed and how he has lost touch with his childhood friends. The speaker's tone becomes more somber as he remembers the struggles of his youth and the challenges he faced as an adult.

One of the most striking aspects of "Those Were The Days" is Levine's use of imagery. His descriptions of the streets, the buildings, and the people of Detroit paint a vivid picture of the city and its inhabitants. For example, in the following lines, Levine describes the buildings of Detroit:

The sky was always there above them,
blue or gray, depending on the time of day,
and they walked through the blocks of two-story bungalows
always set back the same distance from the sidewalk,
with their porches and trees and children playing ball
or skipping rope, dogs barking or lying in shade.

These lines not only provide a visual image of the city but also bring to life the sounds and smells of the neighborhood. The use of sensory details adds depth and realism to the poem, making it more relatable to readers.

Another notable aspect of "Those Were The Days" is Levine's use of repetition. The phrase "those were the days" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's longing for the past. By repeating this phrase, Levine emphasizes the theme of nostalgia and the speaker's desire to go back to a simpler time.

The poem's structure is also worth noting. "Those Were The Days" is written in free verse, which allows Levine to experiment with the form and structure of the poem. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter gives the poem a sense of fluidity and allows the speaker's thoughts and emotions to flow freely.

Interpretation

"Those Were The Days" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of nostalgia and the desire to return to a simpler time. The speaker's longing for his childhood and the people he used to know is something that many people can relate to. The poem also highlights the struggles of the working-class and the challenges they face in their daily lives.

At its core, "Those Were The Days" is a poem about the passage of time and how it affects us all. The speaker's realization that he can never go back to his childhood or the people he used to know is a sobering reminder that time waits for no one. The poem also touches on the theme of loss and how it affects us as individuals.

In addition to its themes, "Those Were The Days" is also a testament to Levine's skill as a poet. His use of imagery, repetition, and free verse all contribute to the poem's emotional impact. The poem's structure allows Levine to explore the speaker's thoughts and emotions in a way that is both poignant and relatable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Philip Levine's "Those Were The Days" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of nostalgia and the desire to return to a simpler time. The poem's themes of the passage of time and loss resonate with readers and offer a poignant reminder of the inevitability of change. Levine's use of imagery, repetition, and free verse all contribute to the poem's emotional impact and showcase his skill as a poet. "Those Were The Days" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience and to evoke powerful emotions in readers.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Those Were The Days: A Nostalgic Journey Through Philip Levine's Poetry

As we grow older, we often find ourselves reminiscing about the past, longing for the days gone by. It is this sense of nostalgia that Philip Levine captures so beautifully in his poem, "Those Were The Days." In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used by Levine to create a vivid picture of a bygone era.

The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about his childhood, "when we drank beer and smoked / cheap cigars in the alleys behind / the stores on First Avenue." The use of the past tense immediately sets the tone for the poem, as the speaker looks back on a time that is long gone. The use of the word "we" suggests that the speaker is not alone in his nostalgia, but that there are others who share his memories.

Levine's use of imagery is particularly effective in creating a sense of time and place. The alleys behind the stores on First Avenue are described as "dark and cool," and the speaker remembers the "smell of garbage and the sweet / scent of the flowering weeds." These sensory details transport the reader to a specific time and place, and evoke a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.

The poem then shifts to a more introspective tone, as the speaker reflects on his own life and the choices he has made. He wonders if he has "wasted" his life, and if he should have "done something else." This sense of regret is a common theme in Levine's poetry, as he often writes about the working-class experience and the struggles of everyday life.

The speaker then remembers a friend who died young, and wonders what his life would have been like if he had lived. This is a poignant moment in the poem, as the speaker is forced to confront the reality of mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The use of the word "ghost" to describe his friend adds to the sense of loss and sadness.

Levine's use of language is simple and direct, but it is also powerful in its ability to convey emotion. The repetition of the phrase "those were the days" throughout the poem creates a sense of longing and nostalgia, and the use of the word "we" creates a sense of community and shared experience. The poem is also full of vivid imagery, such as the "smell of garbage" and the "sweet scent of the flowering weeds," which help to create a sense of time and place.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. He acknowledges that "the world has changed" and that "we have changed with it." This is a bittersweet moment, as the speaker realizes that the past can never be recaptured, but also acknowledges that life is a journey and that we must move forward.

In conclusion, "Those Were The Days" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the sense of nostalgia and longing that we all feel at times. Levine's use of imagery and language is masterful in creating a vivid picture of a bygone era, and his themes of regret and mortality are universal and timeless. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience and to evoke emotion in the reader.

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