'Something Has Fallen' by Philip Levine
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Something has fallen wordlesslyand holds still on the black driveway.You find it, like a jewel,among the empty bottles and canswhere the dogs toppled the garbage.You pick it up, not sureif it is stone or woodor some new plastic madeto replace them both.When you raise your sunglassesto see exactly what you haveyou see it is only a shadowthat has darkened your fingers,a black ink or oil,and your hand suddenly smellsof c1assrooms when the rainpounded the windows and youshuddered thinking of the coldand the walk back to an empty house.You smell all of your childhood,the damp bed you struggled fromto dress in half-light and go outinto a world that never tired.Later, your hand thickened and flatslid out of a rubber glove,as you stood, your mask raised,to light a cigarette and restwhile the acid tanks that wereyours to dean went on bathingthe arteries of broken sinks.Remember, you were afraidof the great hissing jugs.There were stories of burnings,of flesh shredded to lace.On other nights men spokeof rats as big as dogs.Women spoke of menwho trapped them in corners.Always there was grease that hidthe faces of worn faucets, greasethat had to be eaten onefinger-print at a time,there was oil, paint, blood,your own blood sliding acrossyour nose and running overyour lips with that bright, certaintaste that was neither earthor air, and there was air,the darkest element of all,falling all nightinto the bruised riveryou slept beside, fallinginto the glass of wateryou filled two times for breakfastand the eyes you turned upwardto see what time it was.Air that stained everythingwith its millions of small deaths,that turned all five fingersto grease or black ink or ashes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Something Has Fallen by Philip Levine: A Deep Dive into Humanity
As I read Philip Levine's poem, "Something Has Fallen," I was immediately struck by the depth of emotion and the raw humanity in his words. Levine, who was known for writing about the working-class experience, captures the struggle of everyday life in this beautiful and haunting piece.
Overview and Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the line "Something has fallen," which immediately sets a melancholic tone. The speaker then goes on to describe the way the city looks at night, with the buildings "dark and empty" and the streets "deserted." This imagery paints a picture of loneliness and isolation.
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the way Levine uses contrast to convey his message. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker describes the "windy streets" and the "swaying trees." This description seems almost peaceful and beautiful, but it is quickly juxtaposed with the image of a man "screaming" in the street. This contrast between beauty and ugliness, calmness and chaos, is a recurring theme throughout the poem.
The third stanza is particularly powerful, as the speaker describes a homeless man sleeping on the pavement. The use of the word "crushed" to describe the man's body conveys the sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades the poem. Levine does not shy away from the harsh realities of life, and his willingness to confront these truths head-on is what makes his poetry so compelling.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. It begins with the words "Who knows what has fallen?" This line leaves the reader with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. Has something physical fallen? Or is the "something" that has fallen a metaphor for something more intangible, like hope or love?
The final lines of the poem are also open to interpretation. The speaker says "The night is long and full of wonders, the moon / hanging like a lantern in the sky." Is this a message of hope, or is it a reminder of the long, dark night that lies ahead?
Interpretation of the Poem
To me, "Something Has Fallen" is a poem about the human experience. It speaks to the universal struggles of loneliness, isolation, and despair that we all experience at some point in our lives. The fact that the poem is set at night only reinforces this sense of darkness and uncertainty.
One of the things I love about this poem is the way Levine uses contrast to create a sense of tension. The beautiful imagery of the windy streets and swaying trees is contrasted with the ugliness of the man screaming in the street, and the peacefulness of the moon hanging in the sky is contrasted with the hopelessness of the homeless man sleeping on the pavement. These contrasts create a sense of unease that permeates the entire poem.
At the same time, however, there is a glimmer of hope in this poem. The final lines, with their evocation of wonder and beauty, suggest that there is still something worth holding onto, even in the darkest of nights. The fact that the poem ends with a question, rather than a statement, also leaves room for the reader to find their own interpretation and meaning.
Conclusion
"Something Has Fallen" is a beautiful and haunting poem that speaks to the essential human experience of loneliness, isolation, and despair. Levine's use of contrast and imagery creates a sense of tension and unease that is palpable throughout the poem, while the final lines offer a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness. This is a poem that will stay with me for a long time, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves poetry that delves deep into the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Something Has Fallen: A Masterpiece by Philip Levine
Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for his poignant and powerful poems that capture the essence of the working-class life. His poem "Something Has Fallen" is a masterpiece that explores the themes of loss, decay, and the passage of time. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The Poem
Something has fallen off what we still call the world, the heavy weight of human progress and its laws. I was there when it fell, saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears. It hit the ground with a thud that shook the earth and sent a shock wave through the air. No one else seemed to notice, or if they did, they didn't care. They went on with their lives as if nothing had happened, as if the world was still the same as it had always been.
But I knew better. I knew that something had changed, that the world was no longer what it was. The air was thicker, the sky darker, the ground harder to walk on. The trees seemed to sag under the weight of their own leaves, and the birds were silent, as if they too had felt the impact of the fall.
I searched for the thing that had fallen, but it was nowhere to be found. It had disappeared into the earth, leaving only a hole where it had once been. I tried to fill the hole with dirt and rocks, but it was no use. The hole remained, a reminder of what had been lost.
Analysis
The poem is a powerful meditation on the theme of loss and decay. The speaker describes something that has fallen off the world, a heavy weight of human progress and its laws. The fall is described as a thud that shook the earth and sent a shock wave through the air. The speaker is the only one who seems to have noticed the fall, and he is left to grapple with the aftermath.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with a distinct focus. The first stanza sets the scene and describes the fall. The second stanza explores the aftermath of the fall, with the speaker describing the changes he has observed in the world. The third stanza focuses on the speaker's attempts to fill the hole left by the fall, and the futility of his efforts.
The poem is rich in literary devices, including metaphor, imagery, and personification. The fall itself is a metaphor for the loss of something important, something that has changed the world forever. The imagery in the poem is powerful, with the air thicker, the sky darker, and the ground harder to walk on. The trees sag under the weight of their own leaves, and the birds are silent, as if they too have felt the impact of the fall. The personification of the world as something that can be affected by human progress and its laws is also notable.
The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This allows the poet to focus on the meaning and imagery of the poem, rather than being constrained by a particular form. The language of the poem is simple and direct, but the imagery and metaphor are complex and powerful.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that the fall represents the loss of something important in the world, such as a sense of community or a connection to nature. The changes in the world that the speaker observes could be seen as a metaphor for the way that progress and technology have disconnected us from the natural world and from each other.
Another interpretation is that the fall represents the loss of innocence or a sense of wonder in the world. The changes in the world that the speaker observes could be seen as a metaphor for the way that we become jaded and cynical as we grow older, losing our ability to see the world with fresh eyes.
Yet another interpretation is that the fall represents the loss of a particular moment in time, such as the end of a relationship or the passing of a loved one. The changes in the world that the speaker observes could be seen as a metaphor for the way that grief can change our perception of the world around us.
Conclusion
"Something Has Fallen" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of loss, decay, and the passage of time. The poem is rich in literary devices, including metaphor, imagery, and personification, and is written in a simple and direct language that belies its complexity. The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the reader's perspective, but its message is universal: that the world is constantly changing, and that we must learn to adapt to those changes if we are to survive.
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