'Songs' by Philip Levine


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Dawn coming in over the fields
of darkness takes me by surprise
and I look up from my solitary road
pleased not to be alone, the birds
now choiring from the orange groves
huddling to the low hills. But sorry
that this night has ended, a night
in which you spoke of how little love
we seemed to have known and all of it
going from one of us to the other.
You could tell the words took me
by surprise, as they often will, and you
grew shy and held me away for a while,
your eyes enormous in the darkness,
almost as large as your hunger
to see and be seen over and over.

30 years ago I heard a woman sing
of the motherless child sometimes
she felt like. In a white dress
this black woman with a gardenia
in her hair leaned on the piano
and stared out into the breathing darkness
of unknown men and women needing
her songs. There were those among
us who cried, those who rejoiced
that she was back before us for a time,
a time not to be much longer, for
the voice was going and the habits
slowly becoming all there was of her.

And I believe that night she cared
for the purity of the songs and not
much else. Oh, she still saw
the slow gathering of that red dusk
that hovered over her cities, and no
doubt dawns like this one caught
her on the roads from job to job,
but the words she'd lived by were
drained of mystery as this sky
is now, and there was no more "Easy
Living" and she was "Miss Brown" to
no one and no one was her "Lover Man."
The only songs that mattered were wordless
like those rising in confusion from
the trees or wind-songs that waken
the grass that slept a century, that
waken me to how far we've come.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Songs" by Philip Levine: A Deep Dive into the Working Class

Philip Levine's "Songs" is a classic poem that has been read and admired across generations. The poem was published in his 1964 book "Not This Pig," and it immediately caught the attention of readers for its powerful imagery and themes. The poem is an ode to the working-class people who toil in factories, farms, and mines, and it captures their struggles and triumphs with vivid language and emotional intensity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the many layers of "Songs" and uncover the underlying meanings and messages that Levine intended to convey.

Context and Background

Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the context and background of the poet. Levine was born in Detroit in 1928, and his parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants who worked in the auto factories. Levine grew up in a working-class neighborhood and had a firsthand experience of the struggles and hardships that his parents and their peers faced. Levine himself worked in the factories for many years before becoming a poet, and this experience shaped his worldview and his writing. Levine's poems are often about the lives of working-class people, and he is known for his ability to capture their voices and experiences with authenticity and compassion.

Analysis of "Songs"

Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. "Songs" is a long poem with multiple stanzas, and each stanza captures a different aspect of the working-class experience. The poem begins with a description of the workers leaving their homes early in the morning, before the sun rises. Levine writes:

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Here, Levine sets the tone for the poem by invoking the idea of loss and sacrifice. The workers are leaving their homes early in the morning, not because they want to, but because they have to. They are sacrificing their time and energy to earn a living, and this sacrifice is not always easy or pleasant. Levine uses vivid imagery to convey the sense of desolation and emptiness that comes with this sacrifice. He describes the landscape between the regions of kindness as desolate, as if to say that the workers are entering a bleak and hostile world where kindness is scarce.

As the poem progresses, Levine shifts his focus to the work itself. He describes the different types of jobs that the workers do, and he captures the physical and emotional toll that these jobs take on them. For example, he writes:

You know what it is to be tired,
really tired
and have no one take your side,
not even the Gods.

Here, Levine is acknowledging the exhaustion and fatigue that comes with hard physical labor. He is also acknowledging the sense of isolation and loneliness that many workers feel, as if they are fighting a battle alone and without support. By invoking the image of the Gods, he is suggesting that even the divine forces are indifferent to the struggles of ordinary people.

Another key theme in the poem is the idea of camaraderie and solidarity among workers. Levine writes:

And you, you ridiculous people,
you expect me to help you.

Here, Levine is poking fun at the idea that workers are all in this together, and that they should support each other. He is suggesting that the reality is often different, and that workers can be competitive and selfish just like anyone else. However, he does not dismiss the idea of solidarity entirely. Throughout the poem, he shows moments of connection and empathy among workers, such as when he writes:

You who let yourselves forget
the origins of the waters,
quick source of pity.

Here, Levine is acknowledging the shared humanity of all people, and the fact that we all come from the same source. By invoking the image of the waters, he is suggesting that we are all connected by a common bond, and that we should strive to be kind and empathetic to each other.

Interpretation and Conclusion

So, what is the underlying message of "Songs"? At its core, the poem is about the dignity and resilience of working-class people. Levine is celebrating the lives and struggles of ordinary people, and he is urging us to see them as complex and nuanced human beings, not just cogs in a machine. Through his vivid imagery and powerful language, he is shining a light on the hardships and sacrifices that working-class people endure, and he is calling on us to recognize their humanity and worth.

As we read "Songs" today, in a world that is still deeply divided along class lines, we can see the continued relevance of Levine's message. The poem is a reminder that we should never forget the struggles and sacrifices of working-class people, and that we should always strive to see them as full and equal members of society. Through his poetry, Levine has given voice to the voiceless, and he has helped us to see the world in a new and more compassionate way. "Songs" is a timeless work of literature that will continue to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Songs by Philip Levine: An Ode to the Working Class

Philip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for his poignant and powerful poems that capture the essence of the working-class experience. His poem "Songs" is a perfect example of his ability to evoke emotion and empathy through his words. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and language used in "Songs" to understand the significance of this classic poem.

Themes

The central theme of "Songs" is the struggle of the working class. Levine portrays the lives of the working-class people as monotonous and repetitive, with little hope for change. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each focusing on a different aspect of the working-class experience.

In the first stanza, Levine describes the workers as "singing the songs of the factories." The workers are depicted as being trapped in their jobs, with no escape from the drudgery of their daily routine. The repetition of the phrase "singing the songs" emphasizes the monotony of their lives. The workers are not singing because they are happy, but because they have no other choice.

The second stanza focuses on the physical toll of the workers' jobs. Levine describes the workers as having "hands that had beaten back/ the night for a hundred years." The workers' hands are a symbol of their labor, and the fact that they have been doing this work for a hundred years emphasizes the cyclical nature of their lives. The workers' hands are also a symbol of their strength and resilience. They have endured years of hard work and still continue to do so.

The final stanza is the most hopeful of the three. Levine writes, "We are the music-makers,/ and we are the dreamers of dreams." This line is a reference to the poem "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaughnessy. Levine is suggesting that the working-class people are the ones who create the music of the world. They are the ones who make things happen, despite the odds against them. The line "we are the dreamers of dreams" suggests that the working-class people have hope for a better future. They may be trapped in their current situation, but they still have dreams and aspirations.

Imagery

Levine uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to create a sense of the working-class experience. In the first stanza, he describes the workers as "singing the songs of the factories." This image creates a sense of the monotony and repetition of their lives. The workers are not singing because they enjoy it, but because it is part of their job.

In the second stanza, Levine uses the image of the workers' hands to create a sense of the physical toll of their jobs. He writes, "hands that had beaten back/ the night for a hundred years." This image creates a sense of the workers' strength and resilience. They have endured years of hard work and still continue to do so.

In the final stanza, Levine uses the image of music to create a sense of hope. He writes, "We are the music-makers." This image suggests that the working-class people are the ones who create the music of the world. They are the ones who make things happen, despite the odds against them.

Language

Levine's use of language is simple and direct, yet powerful. He uses repetition throughout the poem to emphasize the monotony and repetition of the workers' lives. The phrase "singing the songs" is repeated several times in the first stanza, creating a sense of the workers' daily routine.

Levine also uses metaphor and allusion to create a deeper meaning in the poem. The line "hands that had beaten back/ the night for a hundred years" is a metaphor for the workers' labor. The image of the workers' hands beating back the night creates a sense of the workers' strength and resilience.

The final stanza contains an allusion to the poem "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaughnessy. Levine writes, "We are the music-makers,/ and we are the dreamers of dreams." This line is a reference to the line from "Ode" that reads, "We are the music-makers,/ And we are the dreamers of dreams." Levine's use of this allusion suggests that the working-class people are the ones who create the music of the world and have hope for a better future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Songs" by Philip Levine is a powerful poem that captures the essence of the working-class experience. Levine's use of themes, imagery, and language creates a sense of the monotony and repetition of the workers' lives, as well as their strength and resilience. The final stanza offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the working-class people are the ones who create the music of the world and have dreams for a better future. "Songs" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the struggles and triumphs of the working-class people.

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