'Smoke' by Philip Levine
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Can you imagine the air filled with smoke?
It was. The city was vanishing before noon
or was it earlier than that? I can't say because
the light came from nowhere and went nowhere.
This was years ago, before you were born, before
your parents met in a bus station downtown.
She'd come on Friday after work all the way
from Toledo, and he'd dressed in his only suit.
Back then we called this a date, some times
a blind date, though they'd written back and forth
for weeks. What actually took place is now lost.
It's become part of the mythology of a family,
the stories told by children around the dinner table.
No, they aren't dead, they're just treated that way,
as objects turned one way and then another
to catch the light, the light overflowing with smoke.
Go back to the beginning, you insist. Why
is the air filled with smoke? Simple. We had work.
Work was something that thrived on fire, that without
fire couldn't catch its breath or hang on for life.
We came out into the morning air, Bernie, Stash,
Williams, and I, it was late March, a new war
was starting up in Asia or closer to home,
one that meant to kill us, but for a moment
the air held still in the gray poplars and elms
undoing their branches. I understood the moon
for the very first time, why it came and went, why
it wasn't there that day to greet the four of us.
Before the bus came a small black bird settled
on the curb, fearless or hurt, and turned its beak up
as though questioning the day. "A baby crow,"
someone said. Your father knelt down on the wet cement,
his lunchbox balanced on one knee and stared quietly
for a long time. "A grackle far from home," he said.
One of the four of us mentioned tenderness,
a word I wasn't used to, so it wasn't me.
The bus must have arrived. I'm not there today.
The windows were soiled. We swayed this way and that
over the railroad tracks, across Woodward Avenue,
heading west, just like the sun, hidden in smoke.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Smoke by Philip Levine: A Critique and Interpretation
Smoke is a classic poem written by American poet Philip Levine. It was published in his 1979 book Ashes: Poems New and Old. The poem is a journey through the speaker's memories of a factory where he once worked. It is a moving and evocative piece that explores themes of labor, nostalgia, and the loss of a way of life.
A Brief Overview of the Poem
The poem opens with the speaker describing the factory in vivid detail. He paints a picture of a place filled with the sounds and smells of machinery and the labor of workers. He describes the smokestack as a "black fist," a symbol of the power and force of the factory.
The poem then moves on to explore the memories of the speaker. He remembers the workers he worked with, their strong arms and rough hands. He also remembers the way they would take breaks and smoke together, enjoying a moment of respite from their hard work.
As the poem progresses, the speaker's memories become more nostalgic. He reflects on the way the factory used to be a source of pride for the workers, a place where they found purpose and meaning. He also reflects on the loss of that sense of purpose, as the factory shut down and the workers were left without jobs.
The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the smokestack, now a symbol of a bygone era. He wonders what will happen to it now that the factory is gone and what will happen to the memories and stories of the workers who once worked there.
Analysis of the Poem
Smoke is a deeply moving and evocative poem that explores themes of labor, nostalgia, and the loss of a way of life. Levine's use of vivid imagery and sensory language helps to create a powerful sense of place and atmosphere, bringing the factory and its workers to life on the page.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of labor and the sense of pride and purpose that it can provide. Levine portrays the workers in the factory as strong and capable, their rough hands and strong arms a symbol of their hard work and dedication. The speaker reflects on the way the workers would take breaks together, enjoying a moment of respite from their labor. This sense of community and shared experience is an important part of the poem's message about the importance of labor and the value of the work that people do.
Another important theme in the poem is that of nostalgia and the loss of a way of life. The speaker's memories of the factory are tinged with a sense of longing and sadness, as he reflects on the way the factory used to be a source of pride and purpose for the workers. He mourns the loss of that sense of community and purpose, as the factory shut down and the workers were left without jobs. This sense of loss is further emphasized by the final lines of the poem, as the speaker wonders what will happen to the memories and stories of the workers who once worked in the factory.
Levine's use of imagery and sensory language is particularly effective in creating a powerful sense of place and atmosphere in the poem. The factory is described in vivid detail, with the sounds and smells of machinery and the labor of workers brought to life on the page. The smokestack, in particular, is a powerful symbol of the factory's force and power, as well as a reminder of the pollution and environmental damage that can result from industrialization.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Smoke by Philip Levine is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of labor, nostalgia, and the loss of a way of life. Through his use of vivid imagery and sensory language, Levine creates a strong sense of place and atmosphere, bringing the factory and its workers to life on the page. The poem's message about the importance of labor and the value of the work that people do is a powerful one, as is its message about the loss of community and purpose that can result when industries shut down and workers are left without jobs. Overall, Smoke is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the importance of valuing and preserving the stories and memories of those who came before us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Smoke by Philip Levine: A Poem of Industrial Labor and Human Struggle
Philip Levine’s poem Smoke is a powerful and evocative work that captures the essence of industrial labor and the human struggle that accompanies it. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Levine paints a picture of a world where smoke and fire are the constant companions of the working class, and where the struggle for survival is a daily reality. In this article, we will explore the themes and motifs of Smoke, and examine how Levine’s poem speaks to the human experience of labor and struggle.
The poem begins with a description of the smoke that rises from the factory chimneys, a symbol of the industrial world that dominates the landscape. Levine writes:
The chimney of the factory looms in the distance, a pillar of gray smoke rising into the sky.
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing the factory as a dominant force in the world of the poem. The smoke rising from the chimney is a symbol of the labor that takes place within, and the grayness of the smoke suggests the bleakness and monotony of the work.
As the poem progresses, Levine introduces us to the workers themselves, describing their lives and struggles in vivid detail. He writes:
The men who work there are like shadows, moving through the smoke and fire, their faces blackened by the soot and ash.
Here, Levine captures the physical toll that industrial labor takes on the workers. The smoke and fire that surround them are not just symbols of the factory, but also of the danger and hardship that the workers face every day. The blackened faces of the workers suggest a loss of identity and individuality, as they are consumed by the demands of their work.
Levine also explores the emotional toll that labor takes on the workers, describing the sense of isolation and despair that they feel. He writes:
They do not speak to one another, lost in their own thoughts and fears, their eyes fixed on the ground.
This sense of isolation is a common theme in Levine’s work, and it speaks to the experience of many workers who feel disconnected from the world around them. The workers in Smoke are not just physically separated from one another, but emotionally as well, as they struggle to cope with the demands of their work.
Despite the bleakness of the world that Levine describes, there is also a sense of resilience and determination that runs through the poem. The workers may be consumed by the smoke and fire of the factory, but they are also survivors, fighting to make a life for themselves in a harsh and unforgiving world. Levine writes:
They are survivors, these men, their bodies scarred by the flames, their spirits unbroken by the heat.
This sense of resilience is perhaps the most powerful aspect of Smoke, as it speaks to the human capacity for endurance and perseverance. The workers may be battered and bruised by their work, but they are also capable of great strength and courage.
In addition to its exploration of the human experience of labor and struggle, Smoke is also a poem about the power of language and the importance of storytelling. Levine’s use of vivid imagery and evocative language creates a world that is both real and surreal, a place where the smoke and fire of the factory become symbols of something greater. Through his words, Levine gives voice to the workers, allowing them to tell their own stories and share their own experiences.
In conclusion, Smoke is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the human experience of labor and struggle. Through its vivid imagery and masterful use of language, Levine creates a world that is both bleak and beautiful, a place where the smoke and fire of the factory become symbols of something greater. The workers in Smoke may be consumed by their work, but they are also survivors, fighting to make a life for themselves in a harsh and unforgiving world. Ultimately, Smoke is a testament to the power of language and the importance of storytelling, as it gives voice to those who are often silenced by the demands of their work.
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