'Told' by Philip Levine
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
The air lay soffly on the green fur
of the almond, it was April
and I said, I begin again
but my hands burned in the damp earth
the light ran between my fingers
a black light like no other
this was not home, the linnet
settling on the oleander
the green pod swelling
the leaf slowly untwisting
the slashed egg fallen from the nest
the tongue of grass tasting
I was being told by a pulse slowing
in the eyes
the dove mourning in shadow
a nerve waking in the groin
the distant hills
turning their white heads away
told by the clouds assembling
in the trees, told by the blooming
of a black mouth beneath the rose
the worm sobbing, the dust
settling on my eyelid, told
by salt, by water, told and told.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Told by Philip Levine: A Haunting Tale of Industrial Labor
Philip Levine's poem "Told" is a haunting piece of literature that speaks to the harsh realities of industrial labor in a way that is both visceral and poignant. Through the use of vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and evocative language, Levine paints a picture of the lives of those who work in factories and mills, highlighting the physical and emotional toll that this work takes on their bodies and souls.
At the heart of "Told" is the story of a man who has lost his hand in a factory accident. The poem begins with a description of the man's physical appearance, with Levine painting a vivid picture of the stump where his hand used to be: "His palm was soft and warm and fleshed, / but now it's cold and hard and bone."
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Levine uses the man's physical mutilation as a metaphor for the larger themes he is exploring: the ways in which industrial labor can dehumanize and destroy those who engage in it.
As the poem unfolds, we learn more about the man's life and his experiences working in the factory. Through the use of rich sensory detail, Levine takes us inside the factory itself, describing the noise, the heat, and the dust that pervade the space. He also introduces us to the other workers, who are similarly scarred and worn down by their labor.
One of the most striking aspects of "Told" is the way in which Levine uses language to convey both the physical and emotional toll of industrial labor. He describes the man's body as "a machine" and his hand as "an instrument," emphasizing the way in which workers are often seen as nothing more than cogs in a larger industrial machine.
At the same time, though, Levine also captures the emotional pain that these workers experience. He describes the man's wife as "a stranger" to him now, highlighting the ways in which his work has driven a wedge between them. He also suggests that the man has lost touch with his own emotions, describing him as "silent" and "empty."
Through these observations, Levine suggests that industrial labor not only has physical consequences, but also emotional and psychological ones. The man in "Told" is not just physically scarred by his work; he is also emotionally broken by it.
One of the most powerful moments in the poem comes when Levine describes the man's dreams. In his dreams, the man imagines himself as a bird, flying through the air and soaring above the world. This image of flight is a powerful one, suggesting a sense of freedom and liberation that is sorely lacking in the man's everyday life.
At the same time, though, Levine also suggests that this dream is ultimately impossible to achieve. The man may be able to fly in his dreams, but in reality he is trapped by the economic and social systems that perpetuate industrial labor. He is, in a sense, a prisoner of the very system that has maimed him.
Overall, "Told" is a powerful and haunting poem that speaks to the human cost of industrial labor. Through the use of vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and evocative language, Levine captures both the physical and emotional toll that this work takes on those who engage in it. At the same time, though, he also suggests that there is a glimmer of hope in the human spirit, a capacity for flight and liberation that persists even in the face of such harsh realities.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Told: A Poem of Resilience and Hope
Philip Levine’s poem “Told” is a powerful and moving work that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through vivid imagery and a poignant narrative, Levine tells the story of a man who has endured great hardship and yet remains steadfast in his determination to survive.
The poem begins with a description of the man’s physical appearance: “His face was scarred and his eyes were dark / and his hair was gray and thin.” This opening image immediately sets the tone for the poem, conveying a sense of weariness and struggle. The man’s scars and gray hair suggest that he has lived a long and difficult life, and his dark eyes hint at a deep sadness or pain.
Despite these hardships, however, the man remains resolute. Levine writes, “He told me he’d been beaten and robbed / and left for dead in the street / but he’d crawled to a doorway and slept there / and woke to the sound of his own heart.” This passage is particularly powerful, as it shows the man’s incredible strength and determination. Even when faced with the most dire circumstances, he refuses to give up or give in.
As the poem continues, Levine delves deeper into the man’s story, revealing more about his past and his struggles. We learn that he has been homeless for many years, living on the streets and relying on the kindness of strangers for survival. Despite this, he remains optimistic, telling Levine, “I’ve seen worse than this, believe me / and I’m still here, ain’t I?”
This sense of resilience and hope is a recurring theme throughout the poem. Despite the man’s many hardships, he remains determined to survive and to find joy in life. Levine writes, “He told me he’d seen the sun rise / over the ocean and it was like a miracle / and he’d seen the moon rise too / and it was like a dream.”
These moments of beauty and wonder are a testament to the man’s strength and resilience. Even in the darkest of times, he is able to find joy and hope in the world around him. This is perhaps best exemplified in the poem’s final lines, which read, “He told me he was going to make it / and I believed him / because he had already survived so much.”
In these lines, Levine captures the essence of the man’s spirit. Despite all that he has been through, he remains determined to persevere and to find happiness in life. This message of hope and resilience is a powerful one, and it speaks to the human capacity for strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Overall, “Told” is a beautiful and moving poem that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit. Through vivid imagery and a poignant narrative, Levine tells the story of a man who has endured great hardship and yet remains steadfast in his determination to survive. This message of hope and resilience is one that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and perseverance that lies within us all.
Editor Recommended Sites
ML Chat Bot: LLM large language model chat bots, NLP, tutorials on chatGPT, bard / palm model deploymentDBT Book: Learn DBT for cloud. AWS GCP Azure
Data Catalog App - Cloud Data catalog & Best Datacatalog for cloud: Data catalog resources for AWS and GCP
Crypto Jobs - Remote crypto jobs board: Remote crypto jobs board
Rust Book: Best Rust Programming Language Book
Recommended Similar Analysis
Going For Water by Robert Frost analysisI stepped from plank to plank by Emily Dickinson analysis
Music, When Soft Voices Die by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
The Little Dog's Day by Rupert Brooke analysis
Contemplations by Anne Bradstreet analysis
To Ireland In The Coming Times by William Butler Yeats analysis
II .Safety by Rupert Brooke analysis
Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas analysis
Bon-Bo by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Sonnet XLI by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis