'I Sing The Body Electric' by Philip Levine
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People sit numbly at the counter
waiting for breakfast or service.
Today it's Hartford, Connecticut
more than twenty-five years after
the last death of Wallace Stevens.
I have come in out of the cold
and wind of a Sunday morning
of early March, and I seem to be
crying, but I'm only freezing
and unpeeled. The waitress brings
me hot tea in a cracked cup,
and soon it's all over my paper,
and so she refills it. I read
slowly in The New York Times
that poems are dying in Iowa,
Missoula, on the outskirts of Reno,
in the shopping galleries of Houston.
We should all go to the grave
of the unknown poet while the rain
streaks our notebooks or stand
for hours in the freezing winds
off the lost books of our fathers
or at least until we can no longer
hold our pencils. Men keep coming
in and going out, and two of them
recall the great dirty fights
between Willy Pep and Sandy Sadler,
between little white perfection
and death in red plaid trunks.
I want to tell them I saw
the last fight, I rode out
to Yankee Stadium with two deserters
from the French Army of Indochina
and back with a drunken priest
and both ways the whole train
smelled of piss and vomit, but no
one would believe me. Those are
the true legends better left to die.
In my black rain coat I go back
out into the gray morning and dare
the cars on North Indemnity Boulevard
to hit me, but no one wants trouble
at this hour. I have crossed
a continent to bring these citizens
the poems of the snowy mountains,
of the forges of hopelessness,
of the survivors of wars they
never heard of and won't believe.
Nothing is alive in this tunnel
of winds of the end of winter
except the last raging of winter,
the cats peering smugly from the homes
of strangers, and the great stunned sky
slowly settling like a dark cloud
lined only with smaller dark clouds.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I Sing The Body Electric" by Philip Levine: A Celebration of Humanity
Philip Levine's "I Sing The Body Electric" is a masterful poem that celebrates the beauty and dignity of the human body. Written in 1980, the poem is a powerful reminder of the importance of embracing our physical selves and recognizing the value of every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances.
At its core, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a tribute to the working-class people Levine grew up with in Detroit. The poem reflects on the hard, often grueling work that these individuals do, and the toll it takes on their bodies. But rather than lament their struggles, Levine celebrates their resilience and the sheer strength of will that allows them to persevere.
A Celebration of the Physical Body
One of the most striking aspects of "I Sing The Body Electric" is Levine's unapologetic focus on the physical body. Throughout the poem, he describes the various ways in which the body is used and abused, from mining coal to laying bricks to dancing in a club.
But far from being a source of shame or embarrassment, the body is a source of pride and wonder. Levine revels in the sheer physicality of human existence, describing the body in terms of its strength, endurance, and beauty.
Consider the opening lines of the poem:
The bodies of men and women engirth me and I engirth them,
They will not let me off nor I them till I go with them, respond to them,
And discorrupt them, and charge them full with the charge of the soul.
Here, Levine emphasizes the physical connection between people, using the metaphor of "engirth" to suggest a sense of envelopment and intimacy. The body is not something to be ashamed of or hidden away; it is an integral part of who we are, and something to be celebrated and embraced.
A Tribute to the Working Class
In addition to celebrating the physical body, "I Sing The Body Electric" is also a tribute to the working-class people who are often overlooked and undervalued in society. Levine grew up in Detroit in the 1930s and 40s, and the poem reflects his deep respect and admiration for the people he knew and worked alongside as a young man.
Throughout the poem, Levine describes the various occupations and work environments that he encountered in his youth. He writes of miners and steelworkers, bricklayers and carpenters, factory workers and truck drivers. In each case, he portrays these individuals as strong, capable, and resilient, able to endure even the harshest conditions and most grueling work.
Consider these lines:
The human race is a race of singers and
I sing for you. What is it men in women do not understand?
The fact that our bodies move, and move in
accord to some strict rhythm within themselves…
Here, Levine emphasizes the importance of work as a fundamental part of human existence. He suggests that even the most menial or difficult jobs have a kind of poetry to them, a rhythm and harmony that connects us to the larger world around us.
The Power of Community
One of the most powerful themes of "I Sing The Body Electric" is the idea of community. Throughout the poem, Levine emphasizes the ways in which people come together, often through work or shared experiences, to form strong bonds and connections with one another.
At the same time, he recognizes the challenges that come with community life, including the potential for conflict, division, and misunderstanding. Yet even in the face of these challenges, Levine remains optimistic about the power of community to bring people together and help them overcome their differences.
Consider these lines:
It avails not, time nor place—distance avails not,
I am with you, you men and women of a
generation, or ever so many generations hence,
Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt,
Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd…
Here, Levine emphasizes the sense of connection and solidarity that exists among all human beings, regardless of time or place. He suggests that even as our individual lives come and go, there is a larger sense of community that endures, connecting us to one another across generations and cultures.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Finally, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a celebration of the beauty of imperfection. Throughout the poem, Levine acknowledges the flaws and weaknesses of the human body, recognizing that it is often marked by scars, wrinkles, and other signs of wear and tear.
Yet rather than seeing these imperfections as signs of weakness or inadequacy, Levine embraces them as part of what makes us human. He suggests that it is precisely our imperfections that give us character and depth, and that make us worthy of celebration and respect.
Consider these lines:
We want our friends to be imperfect,
We want our bodies to be imperfect,
We want our lives to be imperfect,
We want our love to be imperfect,
We want our beauty to be imperfect.
Here, Levine emphasizes the importance of imperfection as a source of beauty and authenticity. He suggests that it is through our flaws and imperfections that we are able to connect with others, and to create a sense of shared humanity that transcends superficial differences.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a powerful and moving poem that celebrates the beauty and dignity of the human body. Through its focus on working-class life, community, and the beauty of imperfection, Levine reminds us of the importance of embracing our physical selves and recognizing the value of every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances.
As we navigate the challenges of the modern world, it is easy to lose sight of these fundamental truths. But through the power of poetry, Levine helps us to reconnect with the things that truly matter, and to celebrate the richness and complexity of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
I Sing The Body Electric: A Celebration of Life and Humanity
Philip Levine's "I Sing The Body Electric" is a classic poem that celebrates the beauty and power of the human body. Written in 1971, the poem is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a reminder of the importance of embracing life in all its forms.
At its core, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a celebration of the human body. Levine's poem is a tribute to the physical and emotional strength of the human form, and a reminder of the beauty and power that lies within each of us. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that capture the essence of what it means to be human.
The poem begins with the line "The body is a miracle," setting the tone for the rest of the piece. Levine goes on to describe the body in all its glory, from the "muscles that ripple and flex" to the "bones that hold us upright." He celebrates the body's ability to heal and regenerate, and its capacity for pleasure and pain.
Levine's poem is also a celebration of the human spirit. He writes of the "soul that animates the body," and the "mind that gives it purpose." He celebrates the human capacity for love and compassion, and the power of the human will to overcome adversity.
Throughout the poem, Levine uses vivid imagery and powerful metaphors to bring his message to life. He compares the body to a "great machine," and the soul to a "pilot." He describes the body as a "temple," and the mind as a "priest." These metaphors serve to highlight the complexity and beauty of the human form, and to remind us of the importance of cherishing and nurturing our bodies and spirits.
One of the most striking aspects of "I Sing The Body Electric" is its celebration of diversity. Levine writes of the "black body" and the "white body," the "thin body" and the "fat body," the "young body" and the "old body." He celebrates the uniqueness of each individual, and the beauty that lies in our differences.
Levine's poem is also a celebration of life itself. He writes of the "breath that fills the lungs," and the "heart that beats within the chest." He celebrates the simple pleasures of life, from the "sun on the skin" to the "taste of food in the mouth." He reminds us that life is a precious gift, and that we should cherish every moment.
At its core, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a celebration of humanity. Levine's poem is a reminder of the beauty and power that lies within each of us, and a call to embrace life in all its forms. It is a tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, and a reminder of the importance of cherishing and nurturing our bodies and spirits.
In conclusion, "I Sing The Body Electric" is a classic poem that celebrates the beauty and power of the human body. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Levine reminds us of the importance of cherishing and nurturing our bodies and spirits, and of the beauty and power that lies within each of us. It is a celebration of life itself, and a reminder of the precious gift that it is.
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