'Animals Are Passing From Our Lives' by Philip Levine
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It's wonderful how I jog
on four honed-down ivory toes
my massive buttocks slipping
like oiled parts with each light step.
I'm to market. I can smell
the sour, grooved block, I can smell
the blade that opens the hole
and the pudgy white fingers
that shake out the intestines
like a hankie. In my dreams
the snouts drool on the marble,
suffering children, suffering flies,
suffering the consumers
who won't meet their steady eyes
for fear they could see. The boy
who drives me along believes
that any moment I'll fall
on my side and drum my toes
like a typewriter or squeal
and shit like a new housewife
discovering television,
or that I'll turn like a beast
cleverly to hook his teeth
with my teeth. No. Not this pig.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Animals Are Passing From Our Lives: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
By Philip Levine
"Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a heart-wrenching poem by Philip Levine that delves into the themes of loss, mortality, and the transient nature of life. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Levine paints a picture of a world where animals are disappearing, and humans are left to grapple with the consequences.
Background
Philip Levine, the author of this poem, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet known for his works that address the working-class experience. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, and worked in various factories throughout his youth, which influenced his writing. Throughout his career, Levine wrote extensively about themes of labor, love, and loss.
"Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" was published in 1979 in Levine's collection entitled "Ashes: Poems New and Old." The poem is a reflection on the changing world around us and how it affects our relationship with nature.
Literary Devices
Levine uses a variety of literary devices to convey the themes and emotions of the poem. The most prominent device used in the poem is imagery. The poet uses vivid descriptions of animals, their habitats, and their behavior to create a sense of loss and sadness. For example, the lines "the blue trout / slides out of our hands" and "the last firefly / flares up, quivers, and is gone" create a strong visual image in the reader's mind.
Another device used by Levine is repetition. The phrase "animals are passing from our lives" is repeated throughout the poem, driving home the central message of the poem. The repetition also creates a sense of urgency and inevitability, emphasizing that the loss of animals is not something that can be ignored or reversed.
The poet also uses symbolism to convey the theme of mortality. For example, the image of the "last firefly" can be seen as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. The firefly's brief existence is a reminder that all things, including humans, are mortal and will eventually pass away.
Structure
The poem is divided into four stanzas, with each stanza containing six lines. The consistent structure gives the poem a sense of rhythm and balance, while the brevity of each line creates a sense of urgency.
The opening stanza sets the tone for the poem with the line "The elephant, the huge old beast, / is slow to mate." The use of the elephant as the first animal mentioned in the poem creates a sense of weight and importance.
The second stanza describes the loss of fish, specifically the blue trout. The vivid imagery of the blue trout slipping out of our hands creates a sense of helplessness and loss.
The third stanza focuses on birds, specifically the blue jay and the mockingbird. The use of the phrase "the empty cage" creates a sense of sadness and loss, while the description of the blue jay and mockingbird as "raucous" and "exuberant" creates a contrast between life and death.
The final stanza returns to the theme of mortality with the image of the last firefly. The use of the word "last" emphasizes the finality of death and loss, while the description of the firefly's "quivering" creates a sense of movement and life.
Interpretation
"Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a poignant reflection on the changing world around us and the impact it has on our relationship with nature. The poem can be interpreted in several ways, but at its core, it is a reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
On a literal level, the poem can be seen as a commentary on the loss of animal species due to human activity. The lines "the elephant, the huge old beast, / is slow to mate" can be interpreted as a commentary on the decline of elephant populations due to habitat loss and poaching.
The loss of fish and birds in the poem can also be seen as a commentary on the impact of human activity on the environment. The empty cage and the loss of the blue jay and mockingbird can be interpreted as a commentary on the destruction of natural habitats and the resulting loss of biodiversity.
On a more metaphorical level, the poem can be interpreted as a meditation on mortality. The use of animals as symbols for life and death emphasizes the transience of all things. The repetition of the phrase "animals are passing from our lives" creates a sense of inevitability and reminds us that all things, including ourselves, will eventually pass away.
Ultimately, "Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a powerful reminder of our place in the world and our responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world around us. As the poet warns, "We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless / furnace of this world." The world may be harsh and unforgiving, but we must still find joy and beauty in it, even as we work to protect it.
Conclusion
"Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that speaks to the fragility of life and the importance of preserving the natural world. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Levine reminds us of our place in the world and our responsibility to protect it. The poem is a powerful reminder that even as we mourn the loss of animals, we must remain steadfast in our efforts to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Animals Are Passing From Our Lives: A Poem of Loss and Reflection
Philip Levine's poem "Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a poignant and powerful meditation on the loss of the natural world and the impact of human activity on the environment. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Levine captures the beauty and fragility of the animal kingdom, and the urgent need for us to take responsibility for our actions and protect the planet we call home.
The poem begins with a striking image of a deer standing in a field, "watching the stars / with what must have been wonder." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Levine invites us to see the world through the eyes of the animals that inhabit it. The deer's sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of the night sky is a reminder of the magic and mystery of the natural world, and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
Levine goes on to describe a series of animals, each one more vulnerable and endangered than the last. We see a fox "slipping into the darkness / of its own company," a raccoon "staring out from its treehouse / of dreams," and a skunk "moving through the night / with a gentle authority." These animals are not just passive objects in the landscape, but active participants in their own lives, with their own dreams, desires, and fears. Levine's language is rich and evocative, bringing each animal to life in vivid detail.
As the poem progresses, the tone becomes more urgent and despairing. Levine describes the "great herds of buffalo" that once roamed the plains, now reduced to a handful of survivors in a zoo. He speaks of the "last wild horses" and the "last grizzly" that are disappearing from the earth, victims of habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change. The poem is a lament for the loss of these magnificent creatures, and a warning of the dire consequences of our failure to protect them.
But Levine does not simply mourn the passing of these animals. He also calls on us to take action, to "rise up against the darkness / of our time." He urges us to "speak a simple truth" and "walk in the light" of our own conscience. The poem is a call to arms, a reminder that we have the power to make a difference, to change the course of history, and to save the planet from destruction.
In many ways, "Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a poem about empathy. Levine invites us to see the world through the eyes of the animals, to feel their pain and their joy, and to recognize our own responsibility for their fate. He reminds us that we are not separate from the natural world, but a part of it, and that our actions have consequences that ripple through the entire ecosystem.
The poem is also a meditation on the passage of time, and the fleeting nature of life. Levine speaks of the "long, long time" that the animals have been on earth, and the "brief, bright moment" that we humans occupy. He reminds us that we are not immortal, and that the choices we make today will have an impact on the world long after we are gone.
In conclusion, "Animals Are Passing From Our Lives" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the heart of our relationship with the natural world. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Levine captures the beauty and fragility of the animal kingdom, and the urgent need for us to take responsibility for our actions and protect the planet we call home. The poem is a call to arms, a reminder that we have the power to make a difference, and that the fate of the earth is in our hands. It is a poem that deserves to be read and remembered, and that will continue to inspire and challenge us for generations to come.
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