'For The Country' by Philip Levine
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A Walk with Tom Jefferson1988THE DREAMThis has nothing to do with waror the end of the world. Shedreams there are gray starlingson the winter lawn and the budsof next year's oranges alongsidethis year's oranges, and the sunis still up, a watery circleof fire settling into the skyat dinner time, but there's noflame racing through the houseor threatening the bed. When shewakens the phone is ringingin a distant room, but shedoesn't go to answer it. Noone is home with her, and the carspassing before the house hissin the rain. "My children!" shealmost says, but there are nolonger children at home, thereare no longer those who wouldturn to her, their faces runningwith tears, and ask her forgiveness.THE WARThe Michigan Central Terminalthe day after victory. Her brotherhome from Europe after yearsof her mother's terror, and he stillso young but now with the darkshadow of a beard, holding hertightly among all the otherscalling for their wives or girls.That night in the front roomcrowded with family and neighbors --he was first back on the block --he sat cross-legged on the floorstill in his wool uniform, smokingand drinking as he spoke of passinghigh over the dark cities she'donly read about. He'd wanted togo back again and again. He'd wantedto do this for the country,for this -- a small house with upstairsbedrooms -- so he'd asked to goon raid after raid as thoughhe hungered to kill or be killed.THE PRESIDENTToday on television menwill enter space and return,men she cannot imagine.Lost in gigantic paper suits,they move like sea creatures.A voice will crackle from outthere where no voices arespeaking of the great theaterof conquest, of advancingbeyond the simple miraclesof flight, the small venturesof birds and beasts. The Presidentwill answer with words shecannot remember havingspoken ever to anyone.THE PHONE CALLShe calls Chicago, but no oneis home. The operator asksfor another number but stillno one answers. Togetherthey try twenty-one numbers,and at each no one is ever home."Can I call Baltimore?" she asks.She can, but she knows no onein Baltimore, no one inSt. Louis, Boston, Washington.She imagines herself standingbefore the glass wall highover Lake Shore Drive, the carsbelow fanning into the city.East she can see all the wayto Gary and the great gray cloudsof exhaustion rolling overthe lake where her vision ends.This is where her brother lives.At such height there's nothing,no birds, no growing, no noise.She leans her sweating foreheadagainst the cold glass, shudders,and puts down the receiver.THE GARDENWherever she turns her gardenis alive and growing. The thinspears of wild asparagus, shaftof tulip and flag, green stainof berry buds along the vines,even in the eaten leaf ofpepper plants and clipped stalkof snap bean. Mid-afternoonand already the grass is dryunder the low sun. Bluejayand dark capped juncos hiddenin dense foliage waitingthe sun's early fall, when shereturns alone to hear themcall and call back, and finallyin the long shadows settledown to rest and to silencein the sudden rising chill.THE GAMETwo boys are playing ballin the backyard, throwing itback and forth in the afternoon'sbright sunshine as a black mongrelbig as a shepherd racesfrom one to the other. Shehides behind the heavy drapesin her dining room and listens,but they're too far. Who arethey? They move about her yardas though it were theirs. Are theythe sons of her sons? They'vetaken off their shirts, and shesees they're not boys at all --a dark smudge of hair risesalong the belly of one --, and nowthey have the dog down thrashingon his back, snarling and flashinghis teeth, and they're laughing.AFTER DINNERShe's eaten dinner talkingback to the television, she'shad coffee and brandy, donethe dishes and drifted intoand out of sleep over a bookshe found beside the couch. It'stime for bed, but she goesinstead to the front door, unlocksit, and steps onto the porch.Behind her she can hear onlythe silence of the house. The lightsthrow her shadow down the stairsand onto the lawn, and she walkscarefully to meet it. Now she'sstanding in the huge, whisperingarena of night, hearing herown breath tearing out of herlike the cries of an animal.She could keep going intowhatever the darkness brings,she could find a presence thereher shaking hands could holdinstead of each other.SLEEPA dark sister lies beside herall night, whisperingthat it's not a dream, that firehas entered the spaces betweenone face and another.There will be no wakening.When she wakens, she can'tcatch her own breath, so she yellsfor help. It comes in the formof sleep. They whisperback and forth, using new wordsthat have no meaningto anyone. The aspen shredsitself against her window.The oranges she saw that dayin her yard explodein circles of oil, the few starsquiet and darken. They go on,two little girls up long pasttheir hour, playing in bed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry for the Country by Philip Levine: A Literary Criticism
Poetry for the Country is a powerful and moving poem by the great American poet Philip Levine. Written in his signature style of free verse, the poem explores the themes of nature, identity, and the search for meaning in life. In this literary criticism, I will provide an in-depth analysis of the poem and explore its various literary devices, symbols, and themes.
Background
Philip Levine was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1928. He grew up in a working-class family and worked in various factories before becoming a professor of creative writing at California State University, Fresno. Levine is known for his poems that explore the lives of working-class people and the struggles of the urban poor.
Analysis
Structure and Form
Poetry for the Country is a free verse poem that consists of six stanzas of varying lengths. The poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter but instead relies on the natural rhythms of speech. The lack of structure and form in the poem reflects the chaos and unpredictability of nature and the human experience.
Imagery and Symbolism
Levine uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to convey his message in Poetry for the Country. The poem is filled with images of the natural world, such as birds, trees, and rivers. These images represent the beauty and power of nature and the connection between humans and the natural world.
The poem also contains several symbols that represent the human experience. For example, the river in the poem represents the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The birds that appear in the poem represent freedom and the desire for escape from the constraints of everyday life.
Themes
Poetry for the Country explores several themes, including the search for meaning in life, the connection between humans and the natural world, and the struggle to find one's identity. The poem suggests that the natural world can provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life, and that humans are connected to the natural world in ways that they may not fully understand.
The poem also suggests that the human experience is characterized by struggle and uncertainty. The speaker in the poem is searching for his place in the world and is struggling to find meaning in his life. The poem suggests that this struggle is universal and that all humans must confront it at some point in their lives.
Tone and Mood
The tone of Poetry for the Country is introspective and reflective. The speaker in the poem is contemplating his place in the world and is expressing his thoughts and feelings in a personal and emotional way. The mood of the poem is melancholy and contemplative, reflecting the speaker's internal struggle to find meaning in his life.
Literary Devices
Levine uses several literary devices in Poetry for the Country, including metaphor, simile, and personification. For example, the river in the poem is personified as a "black stallion," suggesting its power and strength. The birds in the poem are also personified as "two bright specks of light," suggesting their freedom and beauty.
Interpretation
Poetry for the Country is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of nature, identity, and the search for meaning in life. The poem suggests that the natural world can provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life and that humans are connected to the natural world in ways that they may not fully understand.
The poem also suggests that the human experience is characterized by struggle and uncertainty. The speaker in the poem is searching for his place in the world and is struggling to find meaning in his life. The poem suggests that this struggle is universal and that all humans must confront it at some point in their lives.
Overall, Poetry for the Country is a deeply personal and emotional poem that speaks to the human experience in a powerful and moving way. Levine's use of vivid imagery and powerful symbolism creates a rich and evocative world that invites the reader to contemplate their own place in the world and the meaning of their own lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Poetry for the Country is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of nature, identity, and the search for meaning in life. Levine's use of vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and personal reflection create a rich and evocative world that speaks to the human experience in a powerful and moving way. This poem is a testament to Levine's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexity and beauty of the human experience in a few short lines of verse.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry For The Country: A Celebration of Rural Life
Philip Levine's "Poetry For The Country" is a beautiful ode to the rural life of America. The poem is a celebration of the simple pleasures of country living, and the beauty of the natural world. Levine's words paint a vivid picture of a world that is often overlooked in our fast-paced, urbanized society.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the reader directly, inviting them to join him in celebrating the country life. He speaks of the "long, slow days" of summer, and the "deep, dark nights" of winter. He describes the "fields of wheat and corn," and the "rivers and streams" that flow through them. The speaker's words are full of a sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the world around him.
As the poem continues, the speaker begins to focus on the people who live in the country. He speaks of the farmers who work the land, and the children who play in the fields. He describes the simple pleasures of life in the country, such as sitting on the porch and watching the sunset, or listening to the sound of the crickets at night.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Levine uses language to create a sense of rhythm and flow. The poem is full of alliteration and repetition, which gives it a musical quality. For example, in the opening lines of the poem, Levine writes:
"Come, let us celebrate the country, Its long, slow days and deep, dark nights, Its fields of wheat and corn, Its rivers and streams that flow through them."
The repetition of the "c" sound in "celebrate," "country," and "corn," and the repetition of the "s" sound in "slow," "days," and "streams," creates a sense of harmony and balance in the poem.
Another striking aspect of the poem is the way in which Levine uses imagery to create a sense of place. He describes the "fields of wheat and corn" as "golden," and the "rivers and streams" as "silver." These images evoke a sense of warmth and richness, and create a vivid picture of the countryside in the reader's mind.
Levine also uses metaphor to great effect in the poem. For example, he describes the "sunrise as a "golden coin," and the "sunset as a "red balloon." These metaphors create a sense of magic and wonder, and help to convey the beauty of the natural world.
One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes towards the end, when the speaker addresses the reader directly once again. He says:
"Come, let us celebrate the country, Its people, its fields, its rivers and streams, Its long, slow days and deep, dark nights, Its simple pleasures and its endless beauty."
This final stanza is a call to action, a plea for the reader to join the speaker in celebrating the country and all that it represents. It is a reminder that, despite the many challenges we face in our modern world, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the simple things in life.
In conclusion, "Poetry For The Country" is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the rural life of America. Levine's words are full of wonder and awe at the beauty of the natural world, and his use of language creates a sense of rhythm and flow that is both musical and evocative. The poem is a reminder that, despite the many challenges we face in our modern world, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the simple things in life.
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