'Passing Out' by Philip Levine

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On The Edge1963The doctor fingers my bruise."Magnificent," he says, "blackat the edges and purplecored." Seated, he spies for clues,gingerly probing the slackflesh, while I, standing, fazed, pullfor air, losing the battle.Faced by his aged diploma,the heavy head of the X-ray, and the iron saddle,I grow lonely. He finds mysecrets common and my sexneither objectionablenor lovely, though he is onthe hunt for significance.The shelved cutlery twinklesbehind glass, and I am onthe way out, "an instanceof the succumbed through extremefantasy." He is alarmedat last, and would raise me, butI am floorward in a dreamof lowered trousers, unarmedand weakly fighting to shutthe window of my drawers.There are others in the room,voices of women abovewhite oxfords; and the old floor,the friendly linoleum,departs. I whisper, "my love,"and am safe, tabled, sniffingspirits of ammoniain the land of my fellows."Open house!" my openingssing: pores, nose, anus let gotheir charges, a shameless flowinto the outer world;and the ceiling, equipped withintelligence, surveys myproduce. The doctor is thrilledby my display, for he is halfthe slave of necessity;I, enormous in my need,justify his sciences."We have alternatives," hesays, "Removal..." (And my bloodwhitens as on their dull traysthe tubes dance. I must studythe dark bellows of the gasmachine, the painless maker.)"...and learning to live with it."Oh, but I am learning fastto live with any pain, ache,growth to keep myself intact;and in imaginationI hug my bruise like an oldPooh Bear, already attunedto its moods. "Oh, my dark one,tell of the coming of coldand of Kings, ancient and ruined."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Passing Out: The Haunting and Beautiful Poetry of Philip Levine

Philip Levine's Passing Out is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores the themes of memory, nostalgia, and loss. At first glance, it may seem like a simple reflection on an old photograph, but as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that there is much more going on beneath the surface. Through his use of language, imagery, and symbolism, Levine creates a powerful meditation on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human existence.

The Poem

The poem begins with the speaker looking at an old photograph of himself and his friends "passing out" (or getting drunk) in a park. The image is vivid and evocative, with the drunken revelers sprawled out on the grass and the "brick wall" and "slender trees" in the background. The speaker then reflects on how much time has passed since that day, and how much he and his friends have changed:

It was so long ago my friend

and I were young and brutalized

with life. We drank and smoked

our days away, and then we were gone.

These lines capture the essence of the poem: the sense of nostalgia and longing for a time that is gone forever. The speaker remembers his youth with a mixture of fondness and regret, and he mourns the passing of time and the loss of his youthful vigor.

The Symbolism

Levine uses a number of powerful symbols throughout the poem to convey his themes. The most striking of these is the photograph itself, which serves as a symbol of memory and nostalgia. The photograph is a physical representation of the past, frozen in time and preserved for all eternity. It allows the speaker to revisit his youth and relive those happy (and not so happy) times, but it also serves as a reminder of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

Another powerful symbol in the poem is the "brick wall" in the background of the photograph. This wall represents the passage of time and the "brutalizing" effects of life. It is a reminder that even though the speaker and his friends were young and carefree at the time the photograph was taken, they were also subject to the same forces of aging and mortality that affect us all.

The Language

One of the most striking features of Levine's poetry is his use of language. He has a gift for evoking powerful emotions through simple, direct language, and he uses this talent to great effect in Passing Out. The language in the poem is spare and unadorned, but it is also incredibly evocative. Consider, for example, the following lines:

We were young and brutalized

with life.

These two short lines capture the essence of the poem: the sense of youthful rebellion and the harsh realities of life. They are simple and direct, but they also convey a great deal of emotion.

The Structure

The structure of the poem is also worth noting. It is divided into three stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the photograph, the second stanza reflects on the passage of time and the changes that have occurred, and the third stanza ends with a powerful statement of the poem's themes:

We drank and smoked

our days away, and then we were gone.

This final line is the culmination of the poem's journey, a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of human existence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Philip Levine's Passing Out is a powerful meditation on memory, nostalgia, and loss. Through his use of language, imagery, and symbolism, Levine creates a haunting and beautiful poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and mortality. It is a reminder that even though our lives may be fleeting and our time on this earth may be short, the memories we leave behind can endure for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Passing Out: A Masterpiece by Philip Levine

If you are a poetry enthusiast, you must have heard of Philip Levine, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Levine's works are known for their raw, unfiltered portrayal of the working-class life, and his poem "Poetry Passing Out" is no exception. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand why it is considered a masterpiece.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a poetry reading where the audience is "passing out" from boredom. The speaker, who is also a poet, is frustrated with the audience's lack of interest in poetry. He wonders why people would come to a poetry reading if they are not interested in poetry. The speaker's frustration is evident in the opening lines of the poem:

"The audience is passing out
from boredom and I'm growing
more impatient by the minute."

The use of the phrase "passing out" is significant as it suggests that the audience is not just bored but is also losing consciousness. This hyperbole emphasizes the speaker's frustration with the audience's lack of engagement.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the nature of poetry and its place in society. He argues that poetry is not just a form of entertainment but is also a means of understanding the world around us. The speaker believes that poetry can help us make sense of our lives and the world we live in. He says:

"Poetry is not a diversion
but a way of knowing what's going on."

The use of the word "diversion" suggests that the speaker sees poetry as something more than just a form of entertainment. He believes that poetry can help us understand the world in a way that other forms of art cannot.

The poem's structure is also worth noting. It is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme or meter. This lack of structure reflects the speaker's frustration with the audience's lack of engagement. The poem's lack of structure mirrors the chaos and confusion that the speaker feels in the face of the audience's indifference.

The language used in the poem is also significant. Levine's use of simple, direct language reflects the speaker's working-class background. The speaker's frustration with the audience's lack of engagement is evident in his use of direct language. He does not mince words or use flowery language to describe his frustration. Instead, he uses simple, direct language to convey his message.

The poem's central theme is the importance of poetry in our lives. The speaker argues that poetry is not just a form of entertainment but is also a means of understanding the world around us. He believes that poetry can help us make sense of our lives and the world we live in. The poem's central message is summed up in the following lines:

"Poetry is a way of knowing
what's going on, what's happening
inside and outside of ourselves."

The use of the phrase "inside and outside of ourselves" suggests that poetry can help us understand not just the world around us but also ourselves. The speaker believes that poetry can help us make sense of our innermost thoughts and feelings.

In conclusion, "Poetry Passing Out" is a masterpiece by Philip Levine. The poem's themes, structure, and language all work together to convey the speaker's frustration with the audience's lack of engagement with poetry. The poem's central message is the importance of poetry in our lives. The speaker argues that poetry is not just a form of entertainment but is also a means of understanding the world around us. The poem's use of simple, direct language reflects the speaker's working-class background and adds to the poem's overall impact. If you are a poetry enthusiast, "Poetry Passing Out" is a must-read.

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