'Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg' by Richard Hugo


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You might come here Sunday on a whim.
Say your life broke down. The last good kiss
you had was years ago. You walk these streets
laid out by the insane, past hotels
that didn't last, bars that did, the tortured try
of local drivers to accelerate their lives.
Only churches are kept up. The jail
turned 70 this year. The only prisoner
is always in, not knowing what he's done.

The principal supporting business now
is rage. Hatred of the various grays
the mountain sends, hatred of the mill,
The Silver Bill repeal, the best liked girls
who leave each year for Butte. One good
restaurant and bars can't wipe the boredom out.
The 1907 boom, eight going silver mines,
a dance floor built on springs--
all memory resolves itself in gaze,
in panoramic green you know the cattle eat
or two stacks high above the town,
two dead kilns, the huge mill in collapse
for fifty years that won't fall finally down.

Isn't this your life? That ancient kiss
still burning out your eyes? Isn't this defeat
so accurate, the church bell simply seems
a pure announcement: ring and no one comes?
Don't empty houses ring? Are magnesium
and scorn sufficient to support a town,
not just Philipsburg, but towns
of towering blondes, good jazz and booze
the world will never let you have
until the town you came from dies inside?

Say no to yourself. The old man, twenty
when the jail was built, still laughs
although his lips collapse. Someday soon,
he says, I'll go to sleep and not wake up.
You tell him no. You're talking to yourself.
The car that brought you here still runs.
The money you buy lunch with,
no matter where it's mined, is silver
and the girl who serves your food
is slender and her red hair lights the wall.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg: A Poem That Captures The Heart And Soul Of A Small Town

When you first read Richard Hugo's Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg, you might think it's just a simple poem about a small Montana town. But as you delve deeper into its words and imagery, you begin to realize that it's a complex and nuanced work of art that captures the essence of America's heartland.

At its core, Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg is a poem about loss and decay. The speaker is walking through the town, observing its buildings, people, and landscape. He notices the grayness of the skies and the buildings, the abandoned factories and mines, and the loneliness of the people. But beneath the surface level of description, there's a deeper meaning that speaks to the human condition.

One of the key themes in the poem is the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker notes that "Everywhere the townsfolk have departed," and that "The mills for making money are shut." This suggests that Philipsburg, like so many other small towns across America, is in decline. The factories and mines that sustained the town for generations are no longer viable, and the people who once lived there have moved on to other places.

But there's also a sense of nostalgia and longing in the poem. The speaker notes that "It's not the buildings but the spaces between them," that he remembers most vividly. This suggests that he's not just mourning the loss of the physical structures of the town, but also the intangible memories and experiences that were once associated with them. He's longing for a time when things were simpler and more certain, when the town was thriving and full of life.

Another key theme in the poem is the isolation and loneliness of the people who remain in Philipsburg. The speaker notes that "There's no one left to receive the heat," suggesting that the people have retreated into themselves and no longer connect with each other. The image of a "brown woman" sitting alone on a porch, "watching nothing in particular," is particularly poignant. It suggests that the woman has given up on life and is resigned to a state of existence rather than truly living.

But despite the sadness and melancholy of the poem, there's also a sense of beauty and hope. The speaker notes that "The sky's a torn slip of the finest azure," and that there's a "light snowfall of cotton" on the ground. These images suggest that even in the midst of decay and loss, there's still a beauty and grace to be found. The poem ends with the speaker walking "up the hill to the graveyard," which suggests that even in death, there's a sense of continuity and connection.

Overall, Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the heart and soul of a small town. It's a poem that speaks to the human condition, to the inevitability of change and loss, and to the beauty and hope that can be found even in the darkest of places. Richard Hugo's words and imagery are haunting and unforgettable, and this poem is a true masterpiece of American literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg: A Poem of Nostalgia and Loss

Richard Hugo's poem "Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg" is a hauntingly beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of small-town America in the mid-twentieth century. The poem is a reflection on the changing landscape of a once-thriving mining town in Montana, and the sense of loss and nostalgia that comes with the passing of time.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which captures a different aspect of the town's decline. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the town's grayness and the sense of isolation that comes with living in a place that is slowly dying. The second stanza focuses on the people of the town, and the sense of sadness and resignation that seems to permeate their lives. The final stanza is a reflection on the poet's own feelings of loss and nostalgia, as he looks back on a time when the town was vibrant and alive.

The first stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as it sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The opening lines, "You might come here Sunday on a whim. / Say your life broke down. The last good kiss / you had was years ago" immediately establish a sense of melancholy and isolation. The town is not a place that people come to by choice, but rather a place that they end up in when their lives have fallen apart. The reference to the "last good kiss" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the people who come to Philipsburg are looking for something that they have lost, whether it be love, happiness, or a sense of purpose.

The second stanza of the poem focuses on the people of the town, and the sense of sadness and resignation that seems to permeate their lives. The lines "The place smells like the grade school of your youth, / drained of hope, the teachers gone, / only the janitor to sweep the eyes / of the emptied halls" capture the sense of decay and neglect that has overtaken the town. The reference to the grade school of the poet's youth is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the town has not only lost its economic vitality, but also its sense of community and purpose. The people who remain in Philipsburg are like the janitor, left to sweep up the remnants of a life that has passed them by.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the poet's own feelings of loss and nostalgia, as he looks back on a time when the town was vibrant and alive. The lines "You've been here before. Remember? / Remember the morning light, / the storm windows / clouding, the winter sky?" capture the sense of nostalgia that the poet feels for a time that is long gone. The reference to the storm windows clouding and the winter sky suggest that the poet is looking back on a time when life was simpler and more innocent, before the harsh realities of the world had set in.

Overall, "Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of small-town America in the mid-twentieth century. The poem is a reflection on the passing of time, and the sense of loss and nostalgia that comes with it. The town of Philipsburg is a symbol of a way of life that has disappeared, and the people who remain there are like ghosts, haunting the empty streets and abandoned buildings. Richard Hugo's poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of a time and a place, and to evoke the emotions that come with the passing of time.

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