'They Feed They Lion' by Philip Levine


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Out of burlap sacks, out of bearing butter,
Out of black bean and wet slate bread,
Out of the acids of rage, the candor of tar,
Out of creosote, gasoline, drive shafts, wooden dollies,
They Lion grow.

Out of the gray hills
Of industrial barns, out of rain, out of bus ride,
West Virginia to Kiss My Ass, out of buried aunties,
Mothers hardening like pounded stumps, out of stumps,
Out of the bones' need to sharpen and the muscles' to stretch,
They Lion grow.

Earth is eating trees, fence posts,
Gutted cars, earth is calling in her little ones,
"Come home, Come home!" From pig balls,
From the ferocity of pig driven to holiness,
From the furred ear and the full jowl come
The repose of the hung belly, from the purpose
They Lion grow.

From the sweet glues of the trotters
Come the sweet kinks of the fist, from the full flower
Of the hams the thorax of caves,
From "Bow Down" come "Rise Up,"
Come they Lion from the reeds of shovels,
The grained arm that pulls the hands,
They Lion grow.

From my five arms and all my hands,
From all my white sins forgiven, they feed,
From my car passing under the stars,
They Lion, from my children inherit,
From the oak turned to a wall, they Lion,
From they sack and they belly opened
And all that was hidden burning on the oil-stained earth
They feed they Lion and he comes.

Editor 1 Interpretation

They Feed They Lion: A Critical Analysis

Philip Levine's poem, "They Feed They Lion," is a powerful and haunting work of art that has resonated with readers for decades. Published in 1968, the poem is a response to the violence and turmoil of the time, particularly the riots that erupted in Detroit in 1967. It is a poem that demands attention, with its stark imagery and relentless repetition of the phrase "They feed they Lion." In this paper, I will explore the poem's themes, structure, and use of language to understand its significance and impact.

Themes

At its core, "They Feed They Lion" is a poem about violence and oppression. The poem's title refers to a group of people (identified only as "they") who are feeding a lion. The lion is a symbol of violence, a force that is both destructive and uncontrollable. The repeated use of the phrase "They feed they Lion" suggests that those in power are responsible for perpetuating violence and oppression in society. The lion, in turn, consumes everything in its path, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake.

One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is its depiction of violence as a cyclical phenomenon. The line "Out of the grey hills of industrial Ohio" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea that violence is not an isolated event but a systemic problem that is deeply rooted in American society. This idea is further reinforced by the poem's final lines, which suggest that the cycle of violence will continue indefinitely: "They will continue to sleep / badly, to suffer in darkness, / to hate in stone until / they are exhausted and empty / and the darkness is silent."

Structure

"They Feed They Lion" is a long poem consisting of several sections, each with its own distinct tone and imagery. The poem is written in free verse, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of structure mirrors the chaos and unpredictability of the violence that the poem describes.

The poem's opening lines are particularly striking: "Out of burlap sacks, out of bearing butter, / Out of black bean and wet slate bread, / Out of the acids of rage, the candor of tar, / Out of creosote, gasoline, drive shafts, / Wooden dollies, steamed elbows, / They Lion grow." The use of a list to describe the lion's growth reinforces the idea that violence is a complex and multifaceted problem.

Throughout the poem, Levine uses repetition to create a sense of urgency and intensity. The phrase "They feed they Lion" is repeated over and over, becoming almost hypnotic in its power. The repetition also reinforces the idea that violence is a cycle that is difficult to break.

Language

Levine's use of language in "They Feed They Lion" is both powerful and evocative. He combines a range of sensory details to create a vivid and unsettling picture of violence. The use of alliteration and assonance throughout the poem creates a sense of musicality that contrasts with the violence it describes.

One of the most striking examples of Levine's use of language occurs in the poem's final stanza: "From their knees, from their elbows / they spill their oil. / Blessings on the torso / of the black car, blessing / on the boot heels of the workmen." The use of the word "blessings" to describe the spillage of oil is jarring and unexpected, highlighting the deep ambivalence that the poem has towards violence.

Levine also uses a range of metaphors and symbols throughout the poem to reinforce its themes. The image of the lion, for example, is a powerful symbol of violence that recurs throughout the poem. Similarly, the repeated reference to the "grey hills of industrial Ohio" is a metaphor for the industrialization of America and the violence that has resulted from it.

Conclusion

"They Feed They Lion" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of violence and oppression in American society. Levine's use of language, repetition, and symbolism creates a vivid and unsettling picture of a society in which violence is deeply entrenched. The poem's lack of structure reflects the chaos and unpredictability of the violence it describes, while the repeated use of the phrase "They feed they Lion" reinforces the idea that violence is a cycle that is difficult to break. Despite its bleak outlook, however, the poem also contains a glimmer of hope. The final stanza suggests that change is possible, even if it may be slow and difficult. Ultimately, "They Feed They Lion" is a powerful call to action, a poem that demands that we confront the violence that exists in our society and work to create a better, more just world.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

They Feed They Lion: A Poem of Desperation and Hope

Philip Levine’s “They Feed They Lion” is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the desperation and hopelessness of a society in crisis. Written in 1968, during a time of great social upheaval and political unrest in America, the poem speaks to the deep-seated anxieties and fears that were felt by many during this tumultuous period.

At its core, “They Feed They Lion” is a poem about the struggle for survival in a world that seems to be falling apart. The poem begins with a vivid and unsettling image of a group of people feeding a lion, a symbol of the destructive forces that threaten to consume us all. The lion is described as “a devourer, a destroyer,” and the people who feed it are “the people of the abyss,” those who have been pushed to the margins of society and are struggling to survive.

As the poem progresses, Levine paints a bleak picture of a world that is plagued by violence, poverty, and despair. He describes a landscape that is “blackened by the fire of small wars” and a people who are “hollowed out by the long dark.” The imagery is stark and uncompromising, and it leaves the reader with a sense of hopelessness and despair.

But despite the darkness of the poem, there is also a glimmer of hope. In the final stanza, Levine writes:

“From the stunned desolation of one vast street to another we wonder, amazed, how the world persists, how the salmon leap upriver through the very center of the despair.”

Here, Levine suggests that even in the midst of the darkest moments, there is still a spark of hope that keeps us going. The image of the salmon leaping upriver is a powerful symbol of resilience and perseverance, and it suggests that even in the face of overwhelming obstacles, we can still find a way to move forward.

One of the most striking things about “They Feed They Lion” is the way that Levine uses language to create a sense of urgency and desperation. The poem is filled with vivid and visceral imagery, and the language is often raw and unpolished. This gives the poem a sense of immediacy and urgency that is both powerful and unsettling.

For example, in the second stanza, Levine writes:

“Out of burlap sacks, out of bearing butter, Out of black bean and wet slate bread, Out of the acids of rage, the candor of tar, Out of creosote, gasoline, drive shafts, wooden dollies, They Lion grow.”

Here, Levine uses a series of concrete and specific images to create a sense of the harsh and unforgiving world that the poem inhabits. The use of industrial and mechanical imagery is particularly effective, as it suggests a world that is dominated by machines and technology, and where human beings are reduced to mere cogs in a vast and impersonal system.

At the same time, however, Levine also uses language to create moments of beauty and transcendence. For example, in the third stanza, he writes:

“From the gray steel sky the light showers leaped, and their bones were reception antennas wired to the central nervous system of the sky.”

Here, Levine uses language to create a sense of wonder and awe, as he describes the rain as a kind of mystical force that connects us to the larger universe. This moment of beauty and transcendence is all the more powerful because it comes in the midst of a poem that is otherwise filled with darkness and despair.

In conclusion, “They Feed They Lion” is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the desperation and hopelessness of a society in crisis. Through its vivid and visceral imagery, its raw and urgent language, and its moments of beauty and transcendence, the poem speaks to the deep-seated anxieties and fears that were felt by many during the turbulent 1960s. And yet, despite its darkness, the poem also offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, we can still find a way to move forward and persevere.

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