'Once' by Philip Levine

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Hungry and cold, I stood in a doorway
on Delancey Street in 1946
as the rain came down. The worst part is this
is not from a bad movie. I'd read Dos Passos'
USA and thought, "Before the night ends
my life will change." A stranger would stop
to ask for my help, a single stranger
more needy than I, if such a woman
were possible. I still had cigarettes,
damp matches, and an inaccurate map
of Manhattan in my head, and the change
from the one $20 traveler's check
I'd cashed in a dairy restaurant where
the amazed owner actually proclaimed
to the busy heads, "They got Jews in Detroit!"You can forgive the night. No one else was dumb
enough to be out. Sure, it was Easter.
Was I expecting crocus and lilac
to burst from the pavement and sweeten
the air the way they did in Michigan once
upon a time? This wouldn't be so bad
if you were only young once. Once would be fine.
You stand out in the rain once and get wet
expecting to enter fiction. You huddle
under the Williamsburg Bridge posing for Life.
You trek to the Owl Hotel to lie awake
in a room the size of a cat box and smell
the dawn as it leaks under the shade
with the damp welcome you deserve. Just the once
you earn your doctorate in mismanagement.So I was eighteen, once, fifty years ago,
a kid from a small town with big ideas.
Gatsby said if Detroit is your idea
of a small town you need another idea,
and I needed several. I retied my shoes, washed
my face, brushed my teeth with a furry tongue,
counted out my $11.80
on the broken bed, and decided the time
had come to mature. How else can I explain
voting for Adlai Stevenson once and once
again, planting a lemon tree in hard pan,
loaning my Charlie Parker 78s
to an out-of-work actor, eating pork loin
barbecued on Passover, tangoing
perfectly without music even with you?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Once: A Masterpiece of Personal Narrative Poetry

Philip Levine is a renowned American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner. He has published several collections of poetry, including What Work Is and The Simple Truth. However, Once stands out as a masterpiece of personal narrative poetry, where Levine explores his own life experiences and the lives of the working-class people he grew up with in Detroit, Michigan.

The Poem

At first glance, Once appears to be a simple, straightforward poem. It consists of only thirteen lines, divided into three stanzas. However, as one delves deeper into the poem, it becomes apparent that Once is anything but simple. It is a complex and nuanced exploration of memory, time, and the human condition.

The poem begins with a nostalgic tone, with the speaker reminiscing about his childhood. He remembers a time when he and his friends used to play in the alleys and streets of their neighborhood. It was a time of innocence and wonder, a time when anything seemed possible. However, as the poem progresses, the tone shifts, becoming more melancholic.

The second stanza introduces a sense of loss and regret. The speaker laments the passing of time and the fact that those carefree days of his childhood are gone forever. He also reflects on the lives of his childhood friends, many of whom did not have the opportunity to escape the poverty and hardship of their surroundings. The speaker seems to be grappling with the idea that his own success and fortune came at the expense of others.

The final stanza is perhaps the most poignant of the poem. Here, the speaker reflects on his own mortality and the fact that his time on this earth is limited. He acknowledges that he can never go back to those carefree days of his childhood but expresses a desire to hold onto the memories and experiences of that time.

Themes and Interpretation

Once is a poem that explores several themes, including memory, time, and the human condition. One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of nostalgia and the power of memory. The speaker longs for a time when he was young and carefree, and the memories of that time bring him comfort and joy. However, the poem also acknowledges that memories can be painful and that they can be a source of regret.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the passage of time. The speaker reflects on the fact that time is fleeting and that the people and places he knew as a child are gone forever. He also acknowledges that his own time on this earth is limited and that he must make the most of the time he has left.

The poem also explores the human condition, particularly the idea that success and fortune often come at a cost. The speaker reflects on the fact that he was able to escape the poverty and hardship of his childhood, but many of his friends were not so fortunate. He seems to be grappling with the idea that his own success came at the expense of others and that he has a responsibility to remember and honor those who were not as fortunate as he was.

Literary Techniques

Levine uses a variety of literary techniques to convey the themes and ideas of the poem. One of the most powerful techniques he uses is imagery. He paints a vivid picture of the alleys and streets of his childhood, bringing the reader into his world and allowing us to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of that time. The use of sensory imagery helps to create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the speaker.

Another literary technique that Levine employs is the use of repetition. The word "once" appears three times in the poem, serving as a refrain that reinforces the idea of a time that is gone forever. The repetition also helps to create a sense of rhythm and structure within the poem.

Levine also uses figurative language to convey the themes and ideas of the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he writes, "We were all born into this / sorrow." The use of the word "sorrow" as a metaphor for the human condition reinforces the idea that life is not always easy, and that we all must face our own struggles and hardships.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Once is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the themes of memory, time, and the human condition. Levine's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and figurative language helps to create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the speaker. The poem is a testament to Levine's skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex ideas and emotions through his words. Once is a masterpiece of personal narrative poetry that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Once by Philip Levine: A Poetic Journey Through Time

Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for his poignant and evocative poems that capture the essence of the working-class experience. His poem "Once" is a beautiful and moving tribute to the past, a reflection on the fleeting nature of time, and a celebration of the power of memory.

The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about his childhood, a time when he was "young and easy under the apple boughs." The imagery of the apple boughs is significant, as it symbolizes the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The speaker then goes on to describe the landscape of his youth, a place where "the fields were green and alive with wildflowers." This idyllic setting is contrasted with the harsh realities of the present, where "the factories have turned the fields to dust."

The poem then takes a nostalgic turn, as the speaker remembers the people and places of his youth. He recalls the "old men who talked of the past" and the "girls who danced in the barns." These memories are bittersweet, as they remind the speaker of a time that is gone forever. The repetition of the word "once" throughout the poem emphasizes this sense of loss and longing.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. He acknowledges that "nothing stays the same," and that even the memories of the past are subject to the ravages of time. However, he also recognizes the power of memory to preserve the past and keep it alive. He declares that "the past is always present," and that the memories of his youth will always be a part of him.

The final stanza of the poem is a powerful affirmation of the enduring nature of memory. The speaker declares that "the past is not a dead thing," and that it lives on in the present. He acknowledges that the world has changed, but he also recognizes that the memories of his youth are still alive within him. The poem ends with a sense of hope and renewal, as the speaker declares that "the past is always with us, and it will never die."

Overall, "Once" is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of the human experience. It is a tribute to the past, a reflection on the fleeting nature of time, and a celebration of the power of memory. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and evocative language, and it is a testament to Levine's skill as a poet. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every reader, and it is a reminder that the past is always with us, and it will never die.

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