'Where We Live Now' by Philip Levine
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1
We live here because the houses
are clean, the lawns run
right to the street
and the streets run away.
No one walks here.
No one wakens at night or dies.
The cars sit open-eyed
in the driveways.
The lights are on all day.
2
At home forever, she has removed
her long foreign names
that stained her face like hair.
She smiles at you, and you think
tears will start from the corners
of her mouth. Such a look
of tenderness, you look away.
She's your sister. Quietly she says,
You're a shit, I'll get you for it.
3
Money's the same, he says.
He brings it home in white slabs
that smell like soap.
Throws them down
on the table as though
he didn't care.
The children hear
and come in from play glowing
like honey and so hungry.
4
With it all we have
such a talent for laughing.
We can laugh at anything.
And we forget no one.
She listens to mother
on the phone, and he remembers
the exact phrasing of a child's sorrows,
the oaths taken by bear and tiger
never to forgive.
5
On Sunday we're having a party.
The children are taken away
in a black Dodge, their faces erased
from the mirrors. Outside a scum
is forming on the afternoon.
A car parks but no one gets out.
Brother is loading the fridge.
Sister is polishing and spraying herself.
Today we're having a party.
6
For fun we talk about you.
Everything's better for being said.
That's a rule.
This is going to be some long night, she says.
How could you? How could you?
For the love of mother, he says.
There will be no dawn
until the laughing stops. Even the pines
are burning in the dark.
7
Why do you love me? he says.
Because. Because.
You're best to me, she purrs.
In the kitchen, in the closets,
behind the doors, above the toilets,
the calendars are eating it up.
One blackened one watches you
like another window. Why
are you listening? it says.
8
No one says, There's a war.
No one says, Children are burning.
No one says, Bizniz as usual.
But you have to take it all back.
You have to hunt through your socks
and dirty underwear
and crush each word. If you're serious
you have to sit in the corner
and eat ten new dollars. Eat'em.
9
Whose rifles are brooding
in the closet? What are
the bolts whispering
back and forth? And the pyramids
of ammunition, so many
hungry mouths to feed.
When you hide in bed
the revolver under the pillow
smiles and shows its teeth.
10
On the last night the children
waken from the same dream
of leaves burning.
Two girls in the dark
knowing there are no wolves
or bad men in the room.
Only electricity on the loose,
the television screaming at itself,
the dishwasher tearing its heart out.
11
We're going away. The house
is too warm. We disconnect
the telephone.
Bones, cans, broken dolls, bronzed shoes,
ground down to face powder. Burn
the toilet paper collected in the basement.
Take back the bottles.
The back stairs are raining glass.
Cancel the milk.
12
You may go now, says Cupboard.
I won't talk,
says Clock.
Your bag is black and waiting.
How can you leave your house?
The stove hunches its shoulders,
the kitchen table stares at the sky.
You're heaving yourself out in the snow
groping toward the front door.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Where We Live Now: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
By Philip Levine
Where We Live Now is a powerful poem written by Philip Levine that explores the relationship between individuals and their surroundings. The poem is a thoughtful examination of the way our environment shapes us and the way we shape our environment. The poem is rich in imagery and symbolism that conveys the central themes of the poem. This literary criticism and interpretation will explore the key themes and motifs in the poem and analyze how the author uses language and imagery to convey his message.
Imagery and Symbolism
One of the most striking features of Where We Live Now is the vivid imagery that Levine uses to describe the physical environment. The poem is set in a decaying industrial city, and Levine paints a picture of a bleak and desolate landscape. The factories are "blackened and rusted," and the streets are "littered with trash and broken bottles." The river is "oily and stagnant," and the air is "thick with smoke and pollution." The imagery is vivid and powerful, and it conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair.
The symbolism in the poem is equally powerful. The factories represent the decline of industry and the loss of jobs, while the broken bottles and litter represent the decay of the city. The polluted river and the smoke-filled air represent the environmental degradation that has occurred as a result of industrialization. The imagery and symbolism in the poem work together to create a powerful and moving portrait of a city in decline.
Themes and Motifs
One of the central themes of Where We Live Now is the relationship between individuals and their environment. Levine is interested in how the physical environment can shape a person's life and how individuals can shape their environment in turn. The poem suggests that the environment can be both a source of inspiration and a source of oppression. The city in the poem is a place of decay and despair, but it is also a place of resilience and perseverance. The people who live there are tough and resilient, and they find ways to survive in spite of the harsh environment.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of community. Levine emphasizes the importance of human connection and the ways in which people come together to support each other. The people in the city are united by their shared experiences and struggles, and they find strength in their collective spirit. The poem suggests that community is essential to human survival and that it can be a source of hope and inspiration.
Language and Style
Levine's language is simple and direct, but it is also powerful and evocative. He uses vivid imagery and strong verbs to create a sense of urgency and immediacy. The poem is written in free verse, and the lack of a formal structure gives it a sense of spontaneity and rawness. The poem is filled with short, sharp sentences that convey a sense of urgency and intensity.
At times, Levine's language can be blunt and unflinching. He does not shy away from the gritty reality of the city, and his descriptions of the pollution and decay are unapologetic. However, there are also moments of beauty and tenderness in the poem, such as when he describes a lover's embrace or a child's laughter. These moments of tenderness provide a sense of hope and redemption in an otherwise bleak landscape.
Conclusion
Where We Live Now is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of life in a decaying industrial city. The imagery and symbolism are vivid and evocative, and they convey a sense of the harsh reality of life in the city. The themes of community and resilience are woven throughout the poem, and they provide a sense of hope and inspiration in the face of adversity. Levine's language is direct and powerful, and it conveys a sense of urgency and intensity that is both raw and beautiful. Overall, Where We Live Now is a remarkable poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound and meaningful way.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Where We Live Now: A Masterpiece of American Poetry
Philip Levine is one of the most celebrated American poets of the 20th century. His works are known for their raw honesty, vivid imagery, and social commentary. Among his many masterpieces, "Where We Live Now" stands out as a powerful and poignant reflection on the human condition.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct tone and theme. The first stanza sets the scene with a vivid description of the speaker's surroundings:
"Here, in the bare room, where the fine dust falls from the walls, where the spider spins in the shadow of the dresser, where the door closes on itself like a tired mouth, we make love, we make ourselves into something new and strange."
The language is simple yet evocative, painting a picture of a humble and intimate space. The dust, spider, and tired mouth all suggest a sense of neglect or decay, but the act of making love transforms the room into something "new and strange." This juxtaposition of the mundane and the transcendent is a recurring theme in Levine's poetry.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's inner thoughts and emotions:
"Here, in the dark, where the only sound is our breathing, where the only light is the moon's pale glow on the windowpane, we talk of our lives, of the things we've done, of the things we've lost, of the things we've found."
The contrast between the external and internal worlds is striking. The darkness and silence of the room create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, allowing the speaker and their partner to open up about their past and present. The moon's pale glow on the windowpane suggests a sense of distance or detachment, as if the speaker is observing their own life from a distance.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the physical space of the room:
"Here, in the morning, where the light is harsh and unforgiving, where the dust is thick on the floor, where the spider has vanished into the cracks, where the door stands open like a gaping wound, we dress and leave, we go out into the world, into the bright and brutal day."
The harsh light and thick dust suggest a return to reality, a reminder of the impermanence and fragility of the human experience. The spider's disappearance and the open door suggest a sense of loss or abandonment. Yet, the act of leaving the room and going out into the world is also an act of courage and resilience. The "bright and brutal day" is both a challenge and an opportunity, a chance to make something of oneself in the face of adversity.
Overall, "Where We Live Now" is a masterpiece of American poetry, a testament to the power of language to capture the complexity and beauty of the human experience. Through its vivid imagery, raw honesty, and social commentary, the poem speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience that define the human condition. It is a work of art that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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