'Something Has Fallen' by Philip Levine
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Something has fallen wordlessly
and holds still on the black driveway.
You find it, like a jewel,
among the empty bottles and cans
where the dogs toppled the garbage.
You pick it up, not sure
if it is stone or wood
or some new plastic made
to replace them both.
When you raise your sunglasses
to see exactly what you have
you see it is only a shadow
that has darkened your fingers,
a black ink or oil,
and your hand suddenly smells
of c1assrooms when the rain
pounded the windows and you
shuddered thinking of the cold
and the walk back to an empty house.
You smell all of your childhood,
the damp bed you struggled from
to dress in half-light and go out
into a world that never tired.
Later, your hand thickened and flat
slid out of a rubber glove,
as you stood, your mask raised,
to light a cigarette and rest
while the acid tanks that were
yours to dean went on bathing
the arteries of broken sinks.
Remember, you were afraid
of the great hissing jugs.
There were stories of burnings,
of flesh shredded to lace.
On other nights men spoke
of rats as big as dogs.
Women spoke of men
who trapped them in corners.
Always there was grease that hid
the faces of worn faucets, grease
that had to be eaten one
finger-print at a time,
there was oil, paint, blood,
your own blood sliding across
your nose and running over
your lips with that bright, certain
taste that was neither earth
or air, and there was air,
the darkest element of all,
falling all night
into the bruised river
you slept beside, falling
into the glass of water
you filled two times for breakfast
and the eyes you turned upward
to see what time it was.
Air that stained everything
with its millions of small deaths,
that turned all five fingers
to grease or black ink or ashes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Something Has Fallen: A Critical Analysis
It is not often that one comes across a poem that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and melancholy, while also being deeply thought-provoking. Philip Levine's "Something Has Fallen" is one such poem. Written in 1999, the poem speaks about the ruin of an industrial town in America and the loss of jobs that followed. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes and meanings, and explore the techniques used by Levine in crafting this masterpiece.
The Poem's Structure and Themes
"Something Has Fallen" is a free-verse poem, consisting of five stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker reflecting on the downfall of his hometown. The poem's themes revolve around the loss of jobs and the economic decline of industrial towns in America.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker stating that "something has fallen that once was high." This line can be interpreted in different ways. On one hand, it could refer to the collapse of the factories and industries that once thrived in the town. On the other hand, it could also refer to the loss of pride and hope that the people of the town once had.
The second stanza describes the town's abandoned factories, with their "windows boarded up" and "chimneys cold." The use of personification here gives the factories a sense of lifelessness, as if they were once living entities that have now been abandoned.
The third stanza speaks about the loss of jobs, with the speaker saying that "men and women wander / the streets, homeless." This line is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the human cost of the town's economic decline. The loss of jobs not only affected the town's economy but also the lives of the people who once worked in the factories.
The fourth stanza describes how the town's streets are now empty, with "no traffic to stop for." This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for the town's decline. Without the factories, the town is no longer a destination for people or goods, and as a result, it has become a ghost town.
The final stanza is perhaps the most powerful, with the speaker saying that "everything that once was high / is falling." This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for the American Dream — the idea that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work. The town's decline shows that this dream is no longer attainable for many Americans.
The Poem's Imagery and Language
Levine's use of imagery and language is particularly effective in conveying the poem's themes. The use of personification, for example, gives the factories and streets a sense of lifelessness and abandonment. The use of metaphors, such as "something has fallen" and "everything that once was high is falling," creates a sense of despair and hopelessness.
The poem's language is also particularly evocative. The use of simple, straightforward language gives the poem a sense of honesty and authenticity. The use of repetition, such as the repetition of the word "falling" in the final stanza, creates a sense of inevitability and finality.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the poem's language is its use of imagery. The description of the boarded-up factories and cold chimneys creates a sense of desolation and abandonment. The image of homeless men and women wandering the streets is particularly haunting.
Interpretation and Critique
"Something Has Fallen" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the decline of industrial towns in America. The poem's themes of loss, despair, and hopelessness are particularly relevant in today's world, where many communities are struggling to cope with economic decline and loss of jobs.
One interpretation of the poem is that it speaks to the decline of the American Dream. The loss of jobs and decline of the town show that the idea of achieving success through hard work is no longer attainable for many Americans. The poem can also be interpreted as a critique of capitalism, with the factories and industries being seen as symbols of a system that values profit over people.
In terms of its strengths, the poem's use of imagery and language is particularly effective in conveying its themes. The use of personification and metaphors creates a sense of desolation and abandonment, while the use of repetition creates a sense of inevitability.
One possible criticism of the poem is that it is overly pessimistic. While the decline of the town is certainly a tragedy, the poem does not offer any hope or solutions. However, this can also be seen as a strength of the poem, as it forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of economic decline without offering any easy answers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Something Has Fallen" is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the decline of industrial towns in America. The poem's themes of loss, despair, and hopelessness are particularly relevant in today's world, where many communities are struggling to cope with economic decline and loss of jobs. The poem's use of imagery and language is particularly effective in conveying its themes, creating a sense of desolation and abandonment. While the poem may be overly pessimistic, its lack of hope or solutions is a strength, as it forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of economic decline without offering any easy answers.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Something Has Fallen: A Poem Analysis
Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for his powerful and evocative poems that explore the lives of working-class people. In his poem "Something Has Fallen," Levine captures the essence of the human experience through a simple yet profound observation of a falling object. This poem is a testament to Levine's ability to find beauty in the mundane and to reveal the deeper meaning behind everyday occurrences.
The poem begins with the speaker noticing "something" falling from the sky. The object is not identified, but the speaker's attention is immediately drawn to it. The first line, "Something has fallen from the sky," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "something" creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, as the reader is left to wonder what exactly has fallen.
The second line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground," reveals the impact of the falling object. The word "hole" suggests a significant impact, and the use of the word "left" implies that the object is no longer there. This creates a sense of loss and absence, as if something important has been taken away.
The third line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground / where the dirt is still warm," adds a sense of immediacy to the poem. The use of the word "still" suggests that the object has only just fallen, and the warmth of the dirt implies that the event has just occurred. This creates a sense of urgency and excitement, as if the speaker has stumbled upon something important and is eager to investigate further.
The fourth line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground / where the dirt is still warm / and the air is thick with the smell of burning," adds a sense of danger to the poem. The use of the word "burning" suggests that the falling object may have been on fire, and the thick air implies that there may be a risk of further danger. This creates a sense of tension and suspense, as if the speaker is in a potentially dangerous situation.
The fifth line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground / where the dirt is still warm / and the air is thick with the smell of burning / and the birds have stopped singing," adds a sense of foreboding to the poem. The use of the phrase "stopped singing" suggests that the birds have been disturbed by the event and are now silent. This creates a sense of unease and suggests that something significant has happened.
The sixth line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground / where the dirt is still warm / and the air is thick with the smell of burning / and the birds have stopped singing / and the world seems to be holding its breath," adds a sense of anticipation to the poem. The use of the phrase "holding its breath" suggests that something important is about to happen, and the reader is left wondering what that might be.
The seventh and final line, "Something has fallen from the sky / and left a hole in the ground / where the dirt is still warm / and the air is thick with the smell of burning / and the birds have stopped singing / and the world seems to be holding its breath / waiting for something to happen," creates a sense of expectation and suspense. The use of the phrase "waiting for something to happen" suggests that the event is not yet over and that there is more to come. This creates a sense of excitement and anticipation, as if the reader is waiting for the next chapter in a thrilling story.
Overall, "Something Has Fallen" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the human experience. Through a simple observation of a falling object, Levine creates a sense of mystery, loss, urgency, danger, foreboding, anticipation, and expectation. The poem is a testament to Levine's ability to find beauty in the mundane and to reveal the deeper meaning behind everyday occurrences. It is a poem that will stay with the reader long after the final line has been read.
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