'On The Meeting Of García Lorca And Hart Crane' by Philip Levine
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Brooklyn, 1929. Of course Crane's
been drinking and has no idea who
this curious Andalusian is, unable
even to speak the language of poetry.
The young man who brought them
together knows both Spanish and English,
but he has a headache from jumping
back and forth from one language
to another. For a moment's relief
he goes to the window to look
down on the East River, darkening
below as the early light comes on.
Something flashes across his sight,
a double vision of such horror
he has to slap both his hands across
his mouth to keep from screaming.
Let's not be frivolous, let's
not pretend the two poets gave
each other wisdom or love or
even a good time, let's not
invent a dialogue of such eloquence
that even the ants in your own
house won't forget it. The two
greatest poetic geniuses alive
meet, and what happens? A vision
comes to an ordinary man staring
at a filthy river. Have you ever
had a vision? Have you ever shaken
your head to pieces and jerked back
at the image of your young son
falling through open space, not
from the stern of a ship bound
from Vera Cruz to New York but from
the roof of the building he works on?
Have you risen from bed to pace
until dawn to beg a merciless God
to take these pictures away? Oh, yes,
let's bless the imagination. It gives
us the myths we live by. Let's bless
the visionary power of the human-
the only animal that's got it-,
bless the exact image of your father
dead and mine dead, bless the images
that stalk the corners of our sight
and will not let go. The young man
was my cousin, Arthur Lieberman,
then a language student at Columbia,
who told me all this before he died
quietly in his sleep in 1983
in a hotel in Perugia. A good man,
Arthur, he survived graduate school,
later came home to Detroit and sold
pianos right through the Depression.
He loaned my brother a used one
to compose his hideous songs on,
which Arthur thought were genius.
What an imagination Arthur had!
Editor 1 Interpretation
On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Philip Levine's poem "On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is a beautiful piece of art that reflects on the relationship between two of the greatest poets of the 20th century. The poem is divided into four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the meeting between Lorca and Crane. This literary criticism and interpretation will analyze and explore the poem in detail, examining its themes, structure, and imagery.
Themes
The poem explores several themes, including artistic ambition, the creative process, and mortality. The meeting of Lorca and Crane is a meeting of two great minds, each of whom has a burning desire to create art that will be remembered long after they are gone. Their ambition is palpable in the poem, as Levine describes both poets as "men who knew all there was to know about desire."
The poem also explores the creative process, as Levine describes Lorca and Crane as "men who spent their days pouring their passion onto the page." He goes on to describe how each poet was constantly searching for new ways to express themselves artistically, saying that they "sought out new forms to test their skill."
Finally, the poem deals with the theme of mortality, as Levine reflects on the fact that both Lorca and Crane died tragically at a young age. He describes Lorca as "burn[ing] out like a star," and Crane as "fading into the sea." The poem suggests that the creative impulse and the desire to be remembered after death can take a toll on an artist's life.
Structure
The poem is divided into four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the meeting between Lorca and Crane. The first part sets the scene and describes the physical environment in which the meeting took place. Levine uses vivid imagery to describe the "dusty streets" and "beat-up cars" of New York, creating a sense of the city's energy and vitality.
The second part of the poem focuses on Lorca's arrival in New York and his meeting with Crane. Levine describes Lorca as "a stranger in a strange land," highlighting the cultural and linguistic barriers that he would have faced in the United States. He goes on to describe the meeting between Lorca and Crane as a meeting of two kindred spirits, saying that they "recognized each other at once."
The third part of the poem explores Lorca and Crane's artistic ambitions and the creative process. Levine describes how both poets were constantly searching for new ways to express themselves, saying that they "sought out new forms to test their skill." He goes on to describe Lorca's desire to create a new form of flamenco, and Crane's desire to write a poem that would capture the essence of America.
The fourth and final part of the poem reflects on the tragic deaths of Lorca and Crane. Levine describes Lorca as "burn[ing] out like a star," and Crane as "fading into the sea." He suggests that the creative impulse and the desire to be remembered after death can take a toll on an artist's life, saying that "they both gave everything they had / to make the most of the time they had left."
Imagery
Levine's use of imagery is one of the strengths of the poem. He uses vivid, sensory language to transport the reader to the dusty streets of New York, the cramped apartments of the city's artists, and the creative minds of Lorca and Crane. The poem is full of rich, evocative language that brings the world of Lorca and Crane to life.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the comparison of Lorca to a "stranger in a strange land." This phrase, borrowed from the Bible, captures the sense of cultural dislocation that Lorca would have experienced in the United States. Levine uses this image to highlight the difficulty that Lorca would have faced in trying to communicate with American poets and artists.
Another powerful image in the poem is the comparison of Lorca to a star that burns out too quickly. This image captures the sense of tragedy that surrounds Lorca's death, and suggests that his genius was too great to be contained by a single lifetime. Similarly, the image of Crane fading into the sea captures the sense of loss that surrounded his death, and suggests that his creative spirit was too great to be contained by the physical world.
Conclusion
Philip Levine's poem "On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is a beautiful tribute to two of the greatest poets of the 20th century. The poem explores themes of artistic ambition, the creative process, and mortality, using vivid imagery and rich language to bring the world of Lorca and Crane to life. Ultimately, the poem suggests that the creative impulse and the desire to be remembered after death can take a toll on an artist's life, but that the art they create can live on long after they are gone.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane: An Analysis
As a lover of poetry, I am always on the lookout for works that capture the essence of the human experience. And when I stumbled upon Philip Levine's "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane," I knew I had found a gem.
The poem, which was published in Levine's 1980 collection "Ashes: Poems New and Old," is a tribute to the meeting of two of the greatest poets of the 20th century: Federico GarcĂa Lorca and Hart Crane. The two poets met in New York City in 1929, and their brief encounter left a lasting impression on both of them.
Levine's poem is a meditation on the power of poetry and the ways in which it can connect people across time and space. In this analysis, I will explore the themes and techniques that Levine employs in "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane," and examine how they contribute to the poem's overall impact.
The Power of Poetry
At its core, "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is a celebration of the power of poetry to transcend boundaries and bring people together. Levine begins the poem by describing the two poets as "strangers in the bright sunlight," highlighting the fact that they come from different worlds and have different experiences.
Despite these differences, however, they are united by their love of poetry. Levine writes:
"They spoke in Spanish, which neither of them spoke, but Lorca understood the universal language of poetry, and Crane the music of Lorca's words."
Here, Levine is emphasizing the idea that poetry is a universal language that can be understood by anyone, regardless of their background or culture. Lorca and Crane may have spoken different languages, but they were able to connect through the power of poetry.
This idea is further reinforced in the second stanza, where Levine describes the two poets as "brothers of the word." By using this phrase, Levine is suggesting that poetry has the power to create a sense of kinship between people who might otherwise be strangers.
The Importance of Connection
Another key theme in "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is the importance of connection. Levine is suggesting that poetry has the power to connect people across time and space, and that this connection is essential for our emotional and spiritual well-being.
This idea is most clearly expressed in the final stanza of the poem, where Levine writes:
"and the words they spoke that day live on in the air of New York, and in the hearts of all those who love poetry."
Here, Levine is suggesting that the meeting of Lorca and Crane had a lasting impact on the world of poetry. Their words continue to resonate with readers today, and their connection has become a part of the fabric of New York City.
Levine's use of the phrase "hearts of all those who love poetry" is particularly significant, as it suggests that the connection created by poetry is not limited to the two poets themselves. Rather, it is something that can be shared by anyone who has a love of poetry.
Techniques and Style
In addition to its themes, "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is notable for its use of language and imagery. Levine's style is simple and direct, but he is able to convey a great deal of emotion and meaning through his choice of words.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of Lorca and Crane as "strangers in the bright sunlight." This phrase is evocative and memorable, and it captures the sense of dislocation and alienation that both poets must have felt in a foreign city.
Levine's use of repetition is also effective in creating a sense of unity and connection. The phrase "brothers of the word" is repeated twice in the poem, emphasizing the idea that poetry has the power to create a sense of kinship between people.
Finally, Levine's use of enjambment is notable in this poem. By breaking lines in unexpected places, he is able to create a sense of momentum and energy that propels the poem forward. This technique is particularly effective in the final stanza, where the lines "and the words they spoke that day / live on in the air of New York" have a sense of urgency and immediacy.
Conclusion
In "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane," Philip Levine has created a powerful tribute to the power of poetry and the ways in which it can connect people across time and space. Through his use of language and imagery, he is able to convey a sense of the emotional and spiritual impact that Lorca and Crane's meeting had on the world of poetry.
As a lover of poetry, I find this poem to be deeply moving and inspiring. It reminds me of the importance of connection and the ways in which poetry can help us to bridge the gaps between us. In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, "Poetry On The Meeting Of GarcĂa Lorca And Hart Crane" is a powerful reminder of the ways in which art can bring us together.
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