'Once' by Philip Levine
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Hungry and cold, I stood in a doorway
on Delancey Street in 1946
as the rain came down. The worst part is this
is not from a bad movie. I'd read Dos Passos'
USA and thought, "Before the night ends
my life will change." A stranger would stop
to ask for my help, a single stranger
more needy than I, if such a woman
were possible. I still had cigarettes,
damp matches, and an inaccurate map
of Manhattan in my head, and the change
from the one $20 traveler's check
I'd cashed in a dairy restaurant where
the amazed owner actually proclaimed
to the busy heads, "They got Jews in Detroit!"
You can forgive the night. No one else was dumb
enough to be out. Sure, it was Easter.
Was I expecting crocus and lilac
to burst from the pavement and sweeten
the air the way they did in Michigan once
upon a time? This wouldn't be so bad
if you were only young once. Once would be fine.
You stand out in the rain once and get wet
expecting to enter fiction. You huddle
under the Williamsburg Bridge posing for Life.
You trek to the Owl Hotel to lie awake
in a room the size of a cat box and smell
the dawn as it leaks under the shade
with the damp welcome you deserve. Just the once
you earn your doctorate in mismanagement.
So I was eighteen, once, fifty years ago,
a kid from a small town with big ideas.
Gatsby said if Detroit is your idea
of a small town you need another idea,
and I needed several. I retied my shoes, washed
my face, brushed my teeth with a furry tongue,
counted out my $11.80
on the broken bed, and decided the time
had come to mature. How else can I explain
voting for Adlai Stevenson once and once
again, planting a lemon tree in hard pan,
loaning my Charlie Parker 78s
to an out-of-work actor, eating pork loin
barbecued on Passover, tangoing
perfectly without music even with you?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Once: A Poetic Odyssey into the Life of Laborers
Oh, what a masterpiece! Once by Philip Levine is a poetic work that captures the essence of the working class. The poem is an emotional journey into the lives of laborers, and it portrays the desperation, hopelessness, and strength that comes with working for a living. The poem is not only a reflection of the laborers' lives but an ode to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit. In this literary criticism, we will explore the themes, structure, imagery, and symbolism in Once.
Themes
The central theme of Once is the life of laborers. Levine gives a voice to the workers who are often overlooked and underappreciated. Levine's poem is a tribute to the people who toil and sweat to earn a living. The poem shows the struggles of the workers, the pain they endure, and the dreams they hold. The theme of labor is intertwined with the human spirit that is capable of enduring hardship and hopelessness. The poem suggests that the working class is the backbone of society, and without it, the society would crumble.
Another theme that is evident in Once is the inevitability of change. The poem begins with a reminiscence of the past, the good old days when the narrator was young and full of hope. As the poem progresses, we see that the world has changed, and the once bustling factories are now closed, the once vibrant city is now a ghost town. The poem suggests that change is an inevitable part of life, and we must learn to adapt to it.
Structure
Once is a free-verse poem that consists of nine stanzas with varying line lengths. The poem has no rhyme scheme, and the lines are not metered. The lack of a rhyme scheme and meter gives the poem a conversational tone, making it sound like the narrator is speaking directly to the reader. The structure of the poem is simple, but it is effective in conveying the emotions and themes of the poem.
The poem is divided into three sections. The first section consists of the first four stanzas, where the narrator reminisces about the past. The second section consists of the next three stanzas, where the narrator talks about the present. The last section consists of the final two stanzas, where the narrator reflects on the future. The structure of the poem reflects the cyclical nature of life, with the past, present, and future being intertwined.
Imagery
The imagery in Once is vivid and powerful. The poem is filled with sensory details that evoke strong emotions in the reader. Levine uses imagery to paint a picture of the life of laborers, and the harsh realities they face. For example, in the opening stanza, Levine describes the factories as "dark satanic mills," a phrase that was used by William Blake to describe the factories of the Industrial Revolution. The imagery in this line is powerful, and it suggests that the factories are not only physical structures but also symbols of oppression.
Throughout the poem, Levine uses imagery to describe the physical and mental toll that working takes on the laborers. In stanza five, the narrator describes the workers as "empty husks, men without faces or names." This line suggests that the workers have lost their identity and are reduced to mere machines that work tirelessly to earn a living.
Symbolism
The use of symbolism in Once is subtle but effective. The most significant symbol in the poem is the city. The city is a symbol of progress and modernity, but it is also a symbol of decay and hopelessness. The narrator describes the city as a place where "the buildings are boarded up, windows broken, paint peeled, signs faded." This line suggests that the city has lost its vibrancy and vitality, and it is a reflection of the decay of the American Dream.
Another symbol in the poem is the river. The river is a symbol of life and renewal. In stanza three, the narrator describes the river as "a river that flows in perpetual darkness." This line suggests that the river is a metaphor for the working class, who work tirelessly, but their efforts often go unnoticed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Once by Philip Levine is a powerful poem that captures the spirit of the working class. The poem is a tribute to the people who toil and sweat to earn a living, and it is a reminder that the working class is the backbone of society. The poem is structured in a way that reflects the cyclical nature of life, and the imagery and symbolism used in the poem evoke strong emotions in the reader. Once is a masterpiece that celebrates the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Once by Philip Levine: A Poem of Nostalgia and Regret
Philip Levine’s poem “Once” is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful tone, Levine captures the essence of nostalgia and regret, inviting readers to contemplate their own memories and experiences.
The poem begins with a simple statement: “Once I sat on a promontory.” This opening line sets the stage for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of time and place. The speaker is looking back on a specific moment in his life, one that is now distant and almost dreamlike in its clarity.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the scene around him in vivid detail. He notes the “gray rocks” and the “gray sea,” painting a picture of a desolate, windswept landscape. The use of color here is significant, as it underscores the sense of melancholy and isolation that permeates the poem.
The speaker then introduces a second character, a woman who is “dressed in white.” This woman is not named, but her presence is felt throughout the poem. She is described as “young and fair,” with “long hair” that “blew in the wind.” The speaker’s admiration for her is palpable, and it is clear that she holds a special place in his memory.
As the poem continues, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. He notes that the woman he once knew is now “old and gray,” and that the landscape around him has also changed. The rocks are no longer “gray,” but are now “brown and green,” and the sea is no longer “gray,” but is now “blue and white.”
This shift in the landscape is symbolic of the larger theme of the poem, which is the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker is mourning the loss of his youth and the people and places that were once familiar to him. He is grappling with the reality that everything is transient, and that nothing lasts forever.
The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant. The speaker notes that he is “alone” on the promontory, with only his memories to keep him company. He acknowledges that the woman he once knew is gone, and that he will never be able to recapture the moment they shared. He ends the poem with a sense of resignation, noting that “nothing is given, nothing is lost.”
Overall, “Once” is a powerful meditation on the nature of memory and the passage of time. Levine’s use of vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful tone creates a sense of nostalgia and regret that is both universal and deeply personal. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own memories and experiences, and to contemplate the fleeting nature of life.
In conclusion, “Once” is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of nostalgia and regret are timeless, and its message of the inevitability of change is as relevant now as it was when the poem was first written. Through its powerful imagery and hauntingly beautiful tone, “Once” reminds us of the importance of cherishing the moments we have, and of holding onto the memories that make life worth living.
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