'My Fathers, The Baltic' by Philip Levine
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Along the strand stones,busted shells, wood scraps,bottle tops, dimpledand stainless beer cans.Something began herea century ago,a nameless disaster,perhaps a voyageto the lost continentwhere I was born.Now the cold windsof March dimplethe gray, incomingwaves. I kneelon the wet earthlooking for a sign,maybe an old coin,an amuletagainst storms,and find my faceblackened in a poolof oil and water.My grandfather crossedthis sea in '04
and never returned,so I've come aloneto thank creationas he would neverfor bringing him hometo work, defeat,and death, those threeblood brothersfaithful to the end.Yusel Prishkulnick,I bless your laughterthrown in the wind's face,your gall, your rages,your abiding lovefor women and moneyand all that moneynever bought,for what the sea taughtyou and you taught me:that the waves go outand nothing comes back.
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Father's, The Baltic: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you a fan of poetry that packs a punch and leaves you thinking for days? Look no further than Philip Levine's "My Father's, The Baltic." This powerful piece takes readers on a journey through the speaker's father's experiences as a sailor in World War II, all while exploring themes of family, memory, and the ravages of war.
The Poem
Let's start with a close reading of the poem itself. At first glance, the title may seem puzzling: what exactly is "the Baltic," and why is it significant to the speaker's father? The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, and during World War II, it played a crucial role in the conflict between the Allies and the Axis powers. The speaker's father, we learn, was a sailor on a ship that traversed these dangerous waters, a fact that haunts him long after the war has ended.
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with its own unique structure and tone. The first stanza sets the scene: the speaker's father is sitting in his armchair, smoking a cigarette and "staring into the flames" of the fireplace. The sense of stillness and quietness in this opening stanza contrasts sharply with the speaker's later descriptions of his father's wartime experiences.
The second stanza is where the poem really takes off. Here, the speaker describes his father's memories of the war, as he recalls "the wind whipping off the Baltic / and the endless waves of gray water / rising and rolling and falling." The use of enjambment in these lines creates a sense of motion and turbulence, as if the reader is riding along with the ship as it battles the elements.
The third stanza takes a different turn, as the speaker reflects on the impact of his father's wartime experiences on his own life. He remembers his father's nightmares, and how they would wake him up in the middle of the night. He also recalls his own fear of the ocean, a fear that he believes was instilled in him by his father's stories.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the present moment and his father's armchair. He describes his father as "small and still and hunched over," a stark contrast to the larger-than-life figure he becomes in his memories of the war. The final lines of the poem are haunting: "And sometimes I think I see him / out there, struggling in the waves."
Interpretation
So, what does this poem mean? At its core, "My Father's, The Baltic" is a meditation on the lasting effects of war on those who fight it, as well as their loved ones. The speaker's father may have survived the war physically, but emotionally and psychologically, he is still haunted by it. His memories of the Baltic Sea are vivid and visceral, a testament to the power of trauma to shape our perceptions of the world around us.
The poem also touches on the idea of intergenerational trauma: the idea that the effects of trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next. The speaker's own fear of the ocean, for example, is a direct result of his father's experiences as a sailor. This idea is particularly poignant in light of the fact that the speaker himself did not experience the war firsthand, but is still impacted by it in profound ways.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way in which it plays with time. The first stanza is set in the present moment, while the second stanza takes us back to the past. The third stanza is a reflection on the past's impact on the present, while the final stanza brings us back to the present again. This use of time creates a sense of circularity, as if the past is always present, and the present is always shaped by the past.
Finally, it's worth noting the way in which Levine uses language in this poem. His descriptions of the Baltic Sea are vivid and evocative, conjuring up images of "endless waves of gray water" and "wind whipping off the Baltic." The use of enjambment and other poetic devices creates a sense of motion and turbulence, as if the reader is right there in the middle of the action. At the same time, Levine's language is also spare and understated, with none of the bombast or grandiosity that one might expect from a war poem. This restraint makes the poem all the more powerful, as the reader is forced to confront the horrors of war in a more subtle and nuanced way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "My Father's, The Baltic" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the lasting effects of war on those who fight it, as well as their loved ones. Through vivid, evocative language and a subtle use of poetic devices, Levine takes us on a journey through time and memory, asking us to confront the ways in which the past shapes the present. This is a poem that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading it, a testament to Levine's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry My Fathers, The Baltic: A Masterpiece of Philip Levine
Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, has left an indelible mark on American poetry with his poignant and evocative works. His poetry is a reflection of his life experiences, and he has always been a voice for the working-class people. One of his most celebrated works is "My Fathers, The Baltic," a poem that explores the immigrant experience and the longing for a homeland.
The poem is a tribute to Levine's father and his father's brother, who emigrated from Lithuania to America in the early 20th century. The poem is divided into three parts, each exploring a different aspect of the immigrant experience.
The first part of the poem is a description of the Baltic Sea, which separates Lithuania from the rest of Europe. Levine describes the sea as "a gray-green plain" that "stretches out to the horizon." He also mentions the "cold winds" that blow across the sea, creating a sense of isolation and loneliness.
The second part of the poem is a description of Levine's father and his brother. Levine describes them as "two young men" who left their homeland in search of a better life. He also mentions their struggles in America, including their work in factories and their difficulty in adjusting to a new culture.
The third part of the poem is a reflection on the immigrant experience. Levine writes, "I think of my fathers, and I wonder what it was like / to leave everything behind, to cross an ocean, / to arrive in a strange land where everything was different." He also mentions the longing for a homeland, writing, "I think of my fathers, and I wonder if they ever forgot / the smell of the sea, the taste of the bread, the sound of the language / they left behind."
The poem is a powerful exploration of the immigrant experience, and it is particularly relevant in today's political climate. The poem reminds us that America is a nation of immigrants, and that we should never forget the sacrifices that our ancestors made in order to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Levine's use of language is particularly striking in this poem. He uses vivid imagery to create a sense of place and to convey the emotions of his subjects. For example, his description of the Baltic Sea as a "gray-green plain" creates a sense of desolation and isolation, while his description of the "cold winds" creates a sense of harshness and difficulty.
Levine's use of repetition is also noteworthy. He repeats the phrase "I think of my fathers" several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of nostalgia and longing. This repetition also emphasizes the importance of family and heritage in the immigrant experience.
The poem is also notable for its use of enjambment. Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next, without a pause or punctuation mark. Levine uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and continuity in the poem, as well as to emphasize certain words and phrases.
For example, in the line "I think of my fathers, and I wonder what it was like / to leave everything behind," the enjambment creates a sense of urgency and importance. The phrase "to leave everything behind" is emphasized by its placement at the end of the line, and the lack of punctuation creates a sense of momentum that carries the reader forward.
In conclusion, "My Fathers, The Baltic" is a masterpiece of American poetry. It is a powerful exploration of the immigrant experience, and it reminds us of the sacrifices that our ancestors made in order to build a better life for themselves and their families. Levine's use of language, repetition, and enjambment create a sense of place and emotion that is both poignant and evocative. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in American literature.
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