'The Simple Truth' by Philip Levine
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I bought a dollar and a half's worth of small red potatoes,
took them home, boiled them in their jackets
and ate them for dinner with a little butter and salt.
Then I walked through the dried fields
on the edge of town. In middle June the light
hung on in the dark furrows at my feet,
and in the mountain oaks overhead the birds
were gathering for the night, the jays and mockers
squawking back and forth, the finches still darting
into the dusty light. The woman who sold me
the potatoes was from Poland; she was someone
out of my childhood in a pink spangled sweater and sunglasses
praising the perfection of all her fruits and vegetables
at the road-side stand and urging me to taste
even the pale, raw sweet corn trucked all the way,
she swore, from New Jersey. "Eat, eat" she said,
"Even if you don't I'll say you did."
Some things
you know all your life. They are so simple and true
they must be said without elegance, meter and rhyme,
they must be laid on the table beside the salt shaker,
the glass of water, the absence of light gathering
in the shadows of picture frames, they must be
naked and alone, they must stand for themselves.
My friend Henri and I arrived at this together in 1965
before I went away, before he began to kill himself,
and the two of us to betray our love. Can you taste
what I'm saying? It is onions or potatoes, a pinch
of simple salt, the wealth of melting butter, it is obvious,
it stays in the back of your throat like a truth
you never uttered because the time was always wrong,
it stays there for the rest of your life, unspoken,
made of that dirt we call earth, the metal we call salt,
in a form we have no words for, and you live on it.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Simple Truth by Philip Levine: A Masterpiece of Realism
As I read Philip Levine's The Simple Truth, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for his ability to capture the raw, unfiltered reality of life in his poetry. This particular poem is a shining example of Levine's talent for stripping away the artificial layers of societal norms and expectations to reveal the true essence of humanity.
At its core, The Simple Truth is a meditation on the nature of truth itself. Levine acknowledges that truth is often elusive, and that we are all prone to deception and self-deception. He writes:
Some things you know all your life. They are so simple and true they must be said without elegance, meter and rhyme, they must be laid on the table beside the salt-shaker, the glass of water, the absence of light gathering in the shadows of picture frames, they must be naked and alone, they must be like fingers plucking at the roots of hair, like feet dancing on the floor beneath the bedsheet.
Levine's language here is deliberately plain and unadorned, as if he is trying to convey the idea that truth is something that cannot be hidden behind flowery language or clever wordplay. Instead, it must be presented in a stark, uncompromising way, like the fingers plucking at the roots of hair or the feet dancing beneath the bedsheet. These images are visceral and immediate, and they convey a sense of physicality that is absent from more abstract notions of truth.
One of the most striking things about The Simple Truth is the way Levine uses everyday objects and experiences to explore deeper philosophical themes. For example, he writes:
You love your country if you love a small town [...] The stink of burning leaves, the gray notes of a few tired birds, the haphazard curves of a village of frame houses poking their porches into the dusty trees, the noises animals make, human voices, the sound of cars, are the things that make you know that you are not alone in the world.
Here, Levine is suggesting that our sense of identity and belonging is tied to the physical world around us. It is not abstract ideas or grandiose ideals that make us feel connected to others, but rather the simple, tangible experiences of everyday life. The stink of burning leaves, the gray notes of tired birds, the haphazard curves of frame houses - these are the things that ground us in the world and make us feel a part of something greater than ourselves.
Another powerful image in The Simple Truth is the description of the speaker's hands as "black with grapes." This image is both literal and metaphorical, as the speaker is a grape picker and his hands are stained from the work. But the image also suggests something deeper about the nature of truth - that it is something that must be earned through hard work and sacrifice. The speaker's hands are a tangible reminder of the labor that goes into producing something of value, whether it is a crop of grapes or a piece of writing.
Throughout The Simple Truth, Levine draws on a variety of techniques to convey his ideas about truth and reality. He uses repetition to emphasize key phrases and images, such as the repeated use of the word "simple" in the opening lines of the poem. He also employs subtle shifts in tone and mood to create a sense of movement and progress, as if the poem itself is a journey of discovery.
In the end, what makes The Simple Truth such a powerful poem is its unflinching realism. Levine doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of life - the physical labor, the poverty, the decay - but he presents them in a way that is both beautiful and honest. He reminds us that truth is not always pleasant or easy to accept, but it is essential if we are to live meaningful lives. As he writes:
All my life I have been wandering around the fields and woods. Only a few things are precious to me: the light in the leaves, the chill of the river, the voice of the mockingbird, a few hours of love.
These simple things, he suggests, are the truest and most valuable things in life. They are the things that make us human and give us purpose. And in the end, they are what make The Simple Truth such a profound and moving work of art.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Simple Truth: A Poem of Life and Death
Philip Levine's The Simple Truth is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of life and death, truth and illusion, and the human condition. Written in 1994, the poem is a meditation on the nature of reality and the meaning of existence, and it speaks to the universal experiences of love, loss, and mortality.
At its core, The Simple Truth is a poem about the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The speaker of the poem reflects on his own mortality, acknowledging that he will one day die, just like everyone else. He observes the world around him, taking note of the beauty and wonder of the natural world, but also recognizing the harsh realities of life, such as poverty, violence, and injustice.
The poem begins with a simple statement of fact: "Some things / you know all your life. They are so simple and true / they must be said without elegance, meter and rhyme." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is written in a straightforward, unadorned style that emphasizes the importance of honesty and authenticity.
As the poem unfolds, the speaker reflects on his own life and experiences, recalling moments of joy and sorrow, love and loss. He remembers the "sweetness of love" and the "bitterness of loss," and he acknowledges that both are essential parts of the human experience. He also reflects on the fleeting nature of life, noting that "the world goes on / as it must, the bees in the garden rumbling / a little, the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten."
Despite the inevitability of death, however, the speaker finds solace in the beauty and wonder of the natural world. He marvels at the "wildflowers / in the ditches," the "blackberries / in the thickets," and the "herons / stalking the shallows of the river." He also finds comfort in the company of his loved ones, noting that "we are all / in this together, the living and the dead."
Throughout the poem, the speaker emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and cherishing the time we have. He urges us to "hold fast to what is good," to "let go of all else," and to "be grateful for life's / endless bounty." He also reminds us that death is not the end, but rather a continuation of the cycle of life, as "the dead are always with us, / in the earth, in the roots of trees, / in the water that runs through the fields."
One of the most striking aspects of The Simple Truth is its use of imagery and metaphor. Levine's descriptions of the natural world are vivid and evocative, and they serve to underscore the poem's themes of life and death. For example, the image of the "blackberries / in the thickets" suggests both the sweetness of life and the thorns of mortality, while the herons "stalking the shallows of the river" symbolize the persistence of life in the face of death.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is the image of the "river of fire" that runs through the world. This image suggests both the destructive power of nature and the transformative power of death, as the river "burns with the pain / of the living and the dead." The river of fire also serves as a reminder that life is not always easy or pleasant, and that we must be prepared to face the challenges and hardships that come our way.
In addition to its use of imagery and metaphor, The Simple Truth is also notable for its use of repetition and parallelism. Throughout the poem, Levine repeats certain phrases and structures, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the poem forward. For example, the repeated phrase "hold fast to what is good" emphasizes the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of life, while the parallel structure of "the sweetness of love / and the bitterness of loss" underscores the idea that both joy and sorrow are essential parts of the human experience.
Overall, The Simple Truth is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal experiences of love, loss, and mortality. Through its vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and repetitive structures, the poem explores the nature of reality and the meaning of existence, reminding us to cherish the time we have and to hold fast to what is good. In the end, the poem offers a message of hope and resilience, suggesting that even in the face of death, life goes on, and that we are all part of a larger cycle of existence that transcends our individual lives.
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