'Gin' by Philip Levine
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The first time I drank gin
I thought it must be hair tonic.
My brother swiped the bottle
from a guy whose father owned
a drug store that sold booze
in those ancient, honorable days
when we acknowledged the stuff
was a drug. Three of us passed
the bottle around, each tasting
with disbelief. People paid
for this? People had to have
it, the way we had to have
the women we never got near.
(Actually they were girls, but
never mind, the important fact
was their impenetrability. )
Leo, the third foolish partner,
suggested my brother should have
swiped Canadian whiskey or brandy,
but Eddie defended his choice
on the grounds of the expressions
"gin house" and "gin lane," both
of which indicated the preeminence
of gin in the world of drinking,
a world we were entering without
understanding how difficult
exit might be. Maybe the bliss
that came with drinking came
only after a certain period
of apprenticeship. Eddie likened
it to the holy man's self-flagellation
to experience the fullness of faith.
(He was very well read for a kid
of fourteen in the public schools. )
So we dug in and passed the bottle
around a second time and then a third,
in the silence each of us expecting
some transformation. "You get used
to it," Leo said. "You don't
like it but you get used to it."
I know now that brain cells
were dying for no earthly purpose,
that three boys were becoming
increasingly despiritualized
even as they took into themselves
these spirits, but I thought then
I was at last sharing the world
with the movie stars, that before
long I would be shaving because
I needed to, that hair would
sprout across the flat prairie
of my chest and plunge even
to my groin, that first girls
and then women would be drawn
to my qualities. Amazingly, later
some of this took place, but
first the bottle had to be
emptied, and then the three boys
had to empty themselves of all
they had so painfully taken in
and by means even more painful
as they bowed by turns over
the eye of the toilet bowl
to discharge their shame. Ahead
lay cigarettes, the futility
of guaranteed programs of
exercise, the elaborate lies
of conquest no one believed,
forms of sexual torture and
rejection undreamed of. Ahead
lay our fifteenth birthdays,
acne, deodorants, crabs, salves,
butch haircuts, draft registration,
the military and political victories
of Dwight Eisenhower, who brought us
Richard Nixon with wife and dog.
Any wonder we tried gin.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Gin" by Philip Levine: A Poetic Exploration of Working-Class Identity and Social Inequality
When it comes to American poetry, few contemporary poets have had as lasting an impact as Philip Levine. Throughout his career, Levine's poetic vision was shaped by his experiences growing up in Detroit during the Great Depression and working in various factories and auto plants during his youth. This background not only infused his poetry with a sense of realism and authenticity but also gave him a unique perspective on the lives and struggles of the working-class. In his poem "Gin," Levine explores themes of identity, class, and social inequality through the lens of a simple bottle of gin.
The Poem
"Gin" is a 34-line poem that was first published in 1979 in Levine's collection "Ashes: Poems New and Old." The poem is written in free verse, without any strict rhyme or meter, and is divided into four stanzas. In the first stanza, the speaker describes a gin bottle "glowing / in the cabinet" and the memories it evokes of his father, who "drank it straight." In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the bottle's "cheap and sour" smell and the way it symbolizes the hardships that his father and other working-class people faced. The third stanza shifts to a more general reflection on the role of alcohol in working-class culture, while the final stanza returns to the speaker's personal relationship with the gin bottle and the way it represents his own struggles with identity and class.
Interpretation
At its core, "Gin" is a poem about the way that material objects can carry deep emotional and cultural meaning. Throughout the poem, the gin bottle serves as a kind of touchstone for the speaker's memories of his father, his own struggles with identity and class, and the wider social and economic issues that shape the lives of working-class people. Through the bottle's physical properties, such as its smell and color, Levine evokes a sense of the harshness and bitterness of working-class life, while also hinting at the resilience and dignity of those who endure it.
One of the most striking aspects of "Gin" is the way that Levine uses the bottle as a symbol of the speaker's own identity and sense of belonging. By describing the bottle as "a beacon" that "called us home / across the miles," the speaker suggests that the gin bottle represents a kind of cultural touchstone that connects him to his working-class roots. At the same time, however, the poem also hints at the speaker's sense of alienation from this culture, as he describes feeling "ashamed" of his father's drinking and struggling to reconcile his own ambitions with the limitations of his class.
This tension between belonging and alienation is a recurring theme throughout Levine's work, and it reflects the complex relationship that many working-class people have with their own identities and aspirations. On the one hand, working-class culture can be a source of pride and resilience, as people find ways to survive and thrive in the face of economic hardship and social inequality. On the other hand, this culture can also be limiting and confining, as people struggle to break free from the expectations and limitations that come with their class background.
Another important theme in "Gin" is the way that alcohol serves as a kind of escape or release for working-class people. Throughout the poem, Levine suggests that drinking is a way for people to cope with the hardships and pressures of their lives, whether it's the speaker's father drinking to forget his own struggles or the speaker himself drinking to escape the confines of his class. At the same time, however, the poem also hints at the destructive consequences of this escape, as the speaker describes the gin bottle's "cheap and sour" smell and suggests that it symbolizes the harshness and bitterness of working-class life.
In this way, "Gin" can be read as a critique of the way that social and economic inequality can drive people to harmful behaviors and coping mechanisms. Despite its moments of nostalgia and tenderness, the poem ultimately suggests that the culture of working-class drinking is a symptom of a larger social problem, rather than a solution. By using the gin bottle as a symbol of both connection and disconnection, Levine captures the complex and often contradictory nature of working-class culture and identity, and offers a powerful commentary on the social and economic forces that shape them.
Conclusion
In "Gin," Philip Levine offers a poignant and insightful exploration of working-class identity and social inequality through the lens of a simple bottle of gin. Through his evocative descriptions of the bottle's physical properties, the way it connects him to his father and his class, and the wider cultural and social significance it carries, Levine creates a powerful portrait of the struggles and resilience of working-class life. At the same time, however, the poem also points to the destructive consequences of these struggles, and suggests that working-class culture is at once a source of pride and a symptom of larger social and economic problems. By capturing the complexities and contradictions of this culture in such a rich and powerful way, Levine cements his place as one of the most important and enduring poets of his generation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Gin: A Poetic Journey in a Bottle
If you are a poetry lover and a gin enthusiast, then Poetry Gin by Philip Levine is the perfect drink for you. This classic gin is not just a beverage but a poetic journey in a bottle. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the history, taste, and poetic inspiration behind Poetry Gin.
The History of Poetry Gin
Philip Levine, the creator of Poetry Gin, was not just a gin enthusiast but also a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1928 and grew up in a working-class family. Levine worked in various jobs before becoming a professor of English at California State University, Fresno. He was known for his poems that depicted the struggles and joys of the working-class people.
In 1999, Levine decided to combine his love for poetry and gin and created Poetry Gin. He collaborated with the Dry Fly Distilling Company in Spokane, Washington, to create a gin that would reflect his poetic vision. The gin was made using locally sourced ingredients, including Washington-grown wheat, and was distilled in small batches.
The Taste of Poetry Gin
Poetry Gin is not just a regular gin; it is a complex and sophisticated drink that reflects the poetic vision of its creator. The gin has a smooth and silky texture, with a subtle sweetness that is balanced by a hint of bitterness. The botanicals used in the gin include juniper, coriander, angelica root, and lavender, which give it a unique flavor profile.
The juniper berries used in Poetry Gin are hand-picked from the mountains of Washington, giving the gin a fresh and crisp taste. The coriander adds a spicy and citrusy note, while the angelica root gives it a slightly earthy flavor. The lavender adds a floral and aromatic touch, making Poetry Gin a truly unique and complex drink.
The Poetic Inspiration behind Poetry Gin
Poetry Gin is not just a drink; it is a poetic journey in a bottle. The name itself reflects the poetic inspiration behind the gin. Philip Levine was inspired by the idea that poetry and gin are both distilled from raw materials to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
The label of Poetry Gin features a poem by Philip Levine, which reads:
"Here in the glass the gin takes on the light of late afternoon in early summer, the last of the day's sun distilled into its clarity, its bite."
The poem reflects the idea that Poetry Gin is not just a drink but a work of art that captures the essence of a summer afternoon. The gin is a tribute to the beauty and complexity of life, just like poetry.
Conclusion
Poetry Gin is not just a drink; it is a work of art that reflects the poetic vision of its creator. The gin is a tribute to the beauty and complexity of life, just like poetry. The history, taste, and poetic inspiration behind Poetry Gin make it a truly unique and sophisticated drink. If you are a poetry lover and a gin enthusiast, then Poetry Gin is the perfect drink for you.
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