'Those Graves In Rome' by Larry Levis

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The Selected Levis, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2000There are places where the eye can starve,
But not here. Here, for example, is
The Piazza Navona, & here is his narrow room
Overlooking the Steps & the crowds of sunbathing
Tourists. And here is the Protestant Cemetery
Where Keats & Joseph Severn join hands
Forever under a little shawl of grass
And where Keats's name isn't even on
His gravestone, because it is on Severn's,
And Joseph Severn's infant son is buried
Two modest, grassy steps behind them both.
But you'd have to know the story--how bedridden
Keats wanted the inscription to be
Simple, & unbearable: "Here lies one
Whose name is writ in water." On a warm day,
I stood here with my two oldest friends.
I thought, then, that the three of us would be
Indissoluble at the end, & also that
We would all die, of course. And not die.
And maybe we should have joined hands at that
Moment. We didn't. All we did was follow
A lame man in a rumpled suit who climbed
A slight incline of graves blurring into
The passing marble of other graves to visit
The vacant home of whatever is not left
Of Shelley & Trelawney. That walk uphill must
Be hard if you can't walk. At the top, the man
Wheezed for breath; sweat beaded his face,
And his wife wore a look of concern so
Habitual it seemed more like the way
Our bodies, someday, will have to wear stone.
Later that night, the three of us strolled,
Our arms around each other, through the Via
Del Corso & toward the Piazza di Espagna
As each street grew quieter until
Finally we heard nothing at the end
Except the occasional scrape of our own steps,
And so said good-bye. Among such friends,
Who never allowed anything, still alive,
To die, I'd almost forgotten that what
Most people leave behind them disappears.
Three days later, staying alone in a cheap
Hotel in Naples, I noticed a child's smeared
Fingerprint on a bannister. It
Had been indifferently preserved beneath
A patina of varnish applied, I guessed, after
The last war. It seemed I could almost hear
His shout, years later, on that street. But this
Is speculation, & no doubt the simplest fact
Could shame me. Perhaps the child was from
Calabria, & went back to it with
A mother who failed to find work, & perhaps
The child died there, twenty years ago,
Of malaria. It was so common then--
The children crying to the doctors for quinine.
And to the tourists, who looked like doctors, for quinine.
It was so common you did not expect an aria,
And not much on a gravestone, either--although
His name is on it, & weathered stone still wears
His name--not the way a girl might wear
The too large, faded blue workshirt of
A lover as she walks thoughtfully through
The Via Fratelli to buy bread, shrimp,
And wine for the evening meal with candles &
The laughter of her friends, & later the sweet
Enkindling of desire; but something else, something
Cut simply in stone by hand & meant to last
Because of the way a name, any name,
Is empty. And not empty. And almost enough.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Those Graves In Rome by Larry Levis: An Interpretation

If you're a poetry enthusiast or a literature student, you might have come across Larry Levis' "Those Graves In Rome." This poem is a masterpiece that has captivated the hearts of many readers with its stunning imagery, eloquent language, and profound themes. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's structure, symbolism, and meaning.

The Structure of the Poem

"Those Graves In Rome" is a free-verse poem that consists of 21 stanzas with varying lines. The length of the stanzas ranges from one to eleven lines, which gives the poem a fragmented and disjointed feel. However, the poem's fragmented structure is not arbitrary but intentional, as it reflects the speaker's fragmented self and the fragmented history of the Roman Empire.

The poem is divided into three sections, each with its distinct theme and tone. The first section focuses on the speaker's visit to Rome and his encounter with the ruins of the Roman Empire. The second section depicts the speaker's struggle with his own identity and past, while the third and final section explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death.

The Symbolism in the Poem

"Those Graves In Rome" is imbued with rich symbolism that adds depth and complexity to the poem. One of the most prominent symbols in the poem is the ruins of the Roman Empire. The ruins represent the vestiges of a once-great civilization that has been reduced to rubble and decay. However, the ruins also represent the speaker's own fragmented self, as he struggles with his past and his sense of identity.

Another significant symbol in the poem is the "graves in Rome," which represent both the physical graves of the dead and the figurative graves of forgotten memories and lost identities. The graves also symbolize death and mortality, which are themes that are explored in the final section of the poem.

The Meaning of the Poem

At its core, "Those Graves In Rome" is a poem about identity, memory, and mortality. The poem explores the human struggle to come to terms with one's past and to find a sense of identity in a world that is constantly changing. The speaker's visit to Rome and his encounter with the ruins of the Roman Empire serve as a metaphor for this struggle, as he grapples with his own fragmented self and the fragmented history of the Roman Empire.

The poem also explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death. The graves in Rome serve as a reminder of the impermanence of human life and the futility of trying to hold on to memories and identities that will eventually fade away. However, the poem also suggests that there is a kind of beauty and dignity in accepting the transience of life and finding meaning in the present moment.

The Language and Imagery in the Poem

One of the most striking things about "Those Graves In Rome" is the poem's eloquent language and vivid imagery. Levis is a master of metaphor and simile, and he uses these literary devices to great effect in the poem. For example, in the first stanza, he compares the ruins of the Roman Empire to "the scabs of a wound that is trying to close," which creates a powerful image of decay and impermanence.

The poem is also filled with beautiful and evocative descriptions of the landscape and the speaker's internal state. For example, in the ninth stanza, Levis writes, "The sky was a pale blue disk left behind/ By a photograph album, its blue foil torn off." This metaphor not only creates a vivid image of the sky but also suggests a sense of nostalgia and loss.

Conclusion

"Those Graves In Rome" is a stunning and powerful poem that explores the human struggle to find a sense of identity and meaning in a world that is constantly changing. The poem's structure, symbolism, language, and imagery all work together to create a profound and evocative portrait of the human condition. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend that you do.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Those Graves in Rome: A Poetic Journey of Loss and Reflection

Larry Levis’ poem “Those Graves in Rome” is a haunting and evocative exploration of the themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Levis takes the reader on a journey through the streets of Rome, where the ghosts of the past seem to linger in every corner.

The poem begins with a description of the titular graves, which are located in a cemetery in Rome. Levis describes them as “rows of white stones / In the grassy sunlight”, and notes that they are “so old / They seem to have been there forever”. This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia.

As the poem progresses, Levis takes us on a tour of Rome, describing the various sights and sounds of the city. He notes the “fountains and the pigeons / And the traffic”, and describes the “narrow streets / That wind through the city like veins”. Throughout these descriptions, there is a sense of timelessness and continuity, as if the city has remained unchanged for centuries.

However, as the poem continues, Levis begins to delve deeper into the theme of loss. He notes that “the dead / Are always with us”, and describes how the ghosts of the past seem to haunt the city. He notes that “the streets are full of them”, and that “they walk beside us / In the shadows”. This sense of the past being ever-present is a recurring theme throughout the poem, and it serves to underscore the sense of loss and nostalgia that permeates the work.

Levis also explores the theme of memory, noting that “we carry the dead with us / In our memories”. He describes how memories can be triggered by even the smallest things, such as “the smell of a flower / Or the sound of a bird”. This idea of memory being a powerful force is another recurring theme throughout the poem, and it serves to underscore the idea that the past is never truly gone.

As the poem draws to a close, Levis returns to the image of the graves in Rome. He notes that “we will all end up here / Eventually”, and that “the dead are waiting for us”. This final stanza serves to underscore the inevitability of death, and the idea that we are all just passing through this world.

Overall, “Those Graves in Rome” is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Levis takes the reader on a journey through the streets of Rome, where the ghosts of the past seem to linger in every corner. Whether you have visited Rome or not, this poem will transport you to the city and leave you with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia that will stay with you long after you have finished reading.

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