'The Return' by Philip Levine
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All afternoon my father drove the country roads
between Detroit and Lansing. What he was looking for
I never learned, no doubt because he never knew himself,
though he would grab any unfamiliar side road
and follow where it led past fields of tall sweet corn
in August or in winter those of frozen sheaves.
Often he'd leave the Terraplane beside the highway
to enter the stunned silence of mid-September,
his eyes cast down for a sign, the only music
his own breath or the wind tracking slowly through
the stalks or riding above the barren ground. Later
he'd come home, his dress shoes coated with dust or mud,
his long black overcoat stained or tattered
at the hem, sit wordless in his favorite chair,
his necktie loosened, and stare at nothing. At first
my brothers and I tried conversation, questions
only he could answer: Why had he gone to war?
Where did he learn Arabic? Where was his father?
I remember none of this. I read it all later,
years later as an old man, a grandfather myself,
in a journal he left my mother with little drawings
of ruined barns and telephone poles, receding
toward a future he never lived, aphorisms
from Montaigne, Juvenal, Voltaire, and perhaps a few
of his own: "He who looks for answers finds questions."
Three times he wrote, "I was meant to be someone else,"
and went on to describe the perfumes of the damp fields.
"It all starts with seeds," and a pencil drawing
of young apple trees he saw somewhere or else dreamed.I inherited the book when I was almost seventy
and with it the need to return to who we were.
In the Detroit airport I rented a Taurus;
the woman at the counter was bored or crazy:
Did I want company? she asked; she knew every road
from here to Chicago. She had a slight accent,
Dutch or German, long black hair, and one frozen eye.
I considered but decided to go alone,
determined to find what he had never found.
Slowly the autumn morning warmed, flocks of starlings
rose above the vacant fields and blotted out the sun.
I drove on until I found the grove of apple trees
heavy with fruit, and left the car, the motor running,
beside a sagging fence, and entered his life
on my own for maybe the first time. A crow welcomed
me home, the sun rode above, austere and silent,
the early afternoon was cloudless, perfect.
When the crow dragged itself off to another world,
the shade deepened slowly in pools that darkened around
the trees; for a moment everything in sight stopped.
The wind hummed in my good ear, not words exactly,
not nonsense either, nor what I spoke to myself,
just the language creation once wakened to.
I took off my hat, a mistake in the presence
of my father's God, wiped my brow with what I had,
the back of my hand, and marveled at what was here:
nothing at all except the stubbornness of things.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Return by Philip Levine: A Poetic Journey of Memories and Reflections
The Return is a poignant and deeply reflective poem by Philip Levine, a renowned American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner. The poem is a journey through the poet's memories and reflections on his childhood, family, and the passing of time. With its vivid imagery, rich language, and evocative tone, The Return invites the reader to a world of nostalgia, longing, and acceptance.
The Poem: A Closer Look
The Return is a long poem divided into six stanzas, each with irregular lengths and varying number of lines. The poem is written in free verse, without a regular rhyme scheme or meter. Instead, the poem's structure and rhythm are determined by the poet's use of enjambment, caesura, repetition, and variation in syntax.
In the first stanza, the poet sets the tone and mood of the poem by describing the landscape of his childhood memories. The imagery is stark and vivid, with an emphasis on the colors and sounds of the natural world. The use of enjambment creates a sense of fluidity and momentum, as if the poet is carried away by his recollections.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the poet's family and their struggles. The poet's father is portrayed as a hardworking man who toils in a factory, while his mother is a stoic figure who endures the hardships of poverty and illness. The use of repetition in the phrase "my mother, my father" underscores the poet's emotional connection to his parents and their sacrifices.
The third stanza introduces the theme of time and its passing. The poet reflects on the changes that have occurred since his childhood, such as the disappearance of the factories and the arrival of new immigrants. The use of caesura in the line "the world will never be the same" creates a sense of finality and inevitability.
The fourth stanza is a reflection on the poet's own life and mortality. The poet describes himself as an "old man" who has outlived his parents and siblings. The use of repetition in the phrase "I am the last" underscores the poet's sense of isolation and loss.
The fifth stanza is a meditation on memory and its power to transcend time and space. The poet imagines himself as a young boy again, playing in the fields and listening to the sounds of the city. The use of imagery in the lines "the smell of gasoline, the hooting of trains" evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing.
The sixth and final stanza is a resolution of sorts, as the poet accepts the inevitability of change and the passing of time. The poem ends with the image of the poet walking "into the world, barefoot", as if he is ready to embrace the present and the future.
Interpretation: Themes and Motifs
The Return is a poem that deals with several interconnected themes and motifs, such as memory, family, time, mortality, and acceptance. The poem is a journey through the poet's personal history, as he revisits his childhood memories and reflects on the changes that have occurred since then.
One of the main themes of the poem is memory and its power to evoke emotions and shape our identity. The poet's recollections of his childhood are described in vivid detail, with an emphasis on sensory impressions and emotional resonance. The use of repetition, enjambment, and imagery creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy, as if the reader is sharing the poet's memories.
Another important theme of the poem is family and its role in shaping our lives. The poet's parents are portrayed as strong and resilient figures who have endured hardships and sacrificed for their children. The use of repetition in the phrase "my mother, my father" emphasizes the poet's emotional connection to his parents and their legacy.
The theme of time and its passing is also central to the poem. The poet reflects on the changes that have occurred since his childhood, such as the disappearance of the factories and the arrival of new immigrants. The use of caesura and repetition creates a sense of finality and inevitability, as if the poet is acknowledging the impermanence of all things.
Mortality is another motif that runs through the poem. The poet describes himself as an "old man" who has outlived his parents and siblings. The use of repetition in the phrase "I am the last" underscores the poet's sense of isolation and loss. The poem can be seen as a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
Finally, acceptance is a theme that is woven throughout the poem. The poet accepts the changes that have occurred since his childhood, as well as the reality of his own mortality. The final image of the poet walking "into the world, barefoot" suggests a willingness to embrace the present and the future, despite the uncertainties and challenges that lie ahead.
Conclusion
In The Return, Philip Levine takes the reader on a poetic journey through his memories and reflections on his childhood, family, and the passing of time. With its vivid imagery, rich language, and evocative tone, the poem invites the reader to a world of nostalgia, longing, and acceptance. The poem deals with several interconnected themes and motifs, such as memory, family, time, mortality, and acceptance, and offers a powerful meditation on the human condition. The Return is a masterpiece of American poetry, and a testament to the enduring power of language to capture the soul of human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry has the power to transport us to different times and places, to evoke emotions we never knew we had, and to make us see the world in a new light. Philip Levine's "The Return" is a perfect example of this power. This poem takes us on a journey through the eyes of a man who has returned to his hometown after many years away. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in "The Return" to understand why it is considered a classic of modern American poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his return to his hometown. He notes that the town has changed since he left, but that it still holds a special place in his heart. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker reflects on the past and the memories that are associated with his hometown. The use of the word "ghosts" in the first line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is haunted by memories of the past.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to describe the town in more detail. He notes that the streets are empty and that the houses are old and worn. However, he also notes that there is a certain beauty in the decay of the town. The use of the word "beauty" in this context is interesting, as it suggests that the speaker sees something positive in the decay of the town. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Return" is the imagery used by Levine. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the town and its surroundings. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker describes the "weeds that grew like hair / on the crumbling sidewalk." This image is both beautiful and haunting, as it suggests that nature is slowly reclaiming the town. Similarly, in the third stanza, the speaker describes the "empty lots / where the grass grew tall as a man." This image is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the town is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Another important aspect of "The Return" is the language used by Levine. The poem is written in free verse, which allows the poet to experiment with language and form. Levine uses a variety of techniques to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem. For example, in the first stanza, he uses alliteration to create a sense of musicality: "ghosts of the past / gather like clouds." This technique is used throughout the poem to create a sense of movement and energy.
The language used in "The Return" is also notable for its simplicity. Levine does not use complex or ornate language, but instead relies on simple, direct language to convey his message. This simplicity is particularly effective in the final stanza of the poem, where the speaker reflects on his own mortality. The use of the word "dust" in the final line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that everything in the world is temporary and will eventually return to the earth.
In conclusion, "The Return" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of memory, change, and mortality. Through vivid imagery and simple language, Levine creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for a time that has passed. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to transport us to different times and places, and to make us see the world in a new light. It is no wonder that "The Return" is considered a classic of modern American poetry, and it will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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