'Salts And Oils' by Philip Levine
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In Havana in 1948 I ate fried dog
believing it was Peking duck. Later,
in Tampa I bunked with an insane sailor
who kept a .38 Smith and Wesson in his shorts.
In the same room were twins, oilers
from Toledo, who argued for hours
each night whose turn it was
to get breakfast and should he turn
the eggs or not. On the way north
I lived for three days on warm water
in a DC-6 with a burned out radio
on the runway at Athens, Georgia. We sang
a song, "Georgia's Big Behind," and prayed
for WWIII and complete, unconditional surrender.
Napping in an open field near Newport News,
I chewed on grass while the shadows of September
lengthened; in the distance a man hammered
on the roof of a hangar and groaned how he
was out of luck and vittles. Bummed a ride
in from Mitchell Field and had beet borscht
and white bread at 34th and 8th Avenue.
I threw up in the alley behind the YMCA
and slept until they turned me out.
I walked the bridge to Brooklyn
while the East River browned below.
A mile from Ebbetts Field, from all
that history, I found Murray, my papa's
buddy, in his greasy truck shop, polishing
replacement parts. Short, unshaven, puffed,
he strutted the filthy aisles,
a tiny Ghengis Khan. He sent out for soup
and sandwiches. The world turned on barley,
pickled meats, yellow mustard, kasha,
rye breads. It rained in October, rained
so hard I couldn't walk and smoke, so I
chewed pepsin chewing gum. The rain
spoiled Armistice Day in Lancaster, Pa.
The open cars overflowed, girls cried,
the tubas and trombones went dumb,
the floral displays shredded, the gutters
clogged with petals. Afterwards had ham
on buttered whole-wheat bread, ham
and butter for the first time
on the same day in Zanesville with snow
forecast, snow, high winds, closed roads,
solid darkness before 5 p.m. These were not
the labors of Hercules, these were not
of meat or moment to anyone but me
or destined for story or to learn from
or to make me fit to take the hand
of a toad or a toad princess or to stand
in line for food stamps. One quiet morning
at the end of my thirteenth year a little bird
with a dark head and tattered tail feathers
had come to the bedroom window and commanded
me to pass through the winding miles
of narrow dark corridors and passageways
of my growing body the filth and glory
of the palatable world. Since then I've
been going out and coming back
the way a swallow does with unerring grace
and foreknowledge because all of this
was prophesied in the final, unread book
of the Midrash and because I have to
grow up and because it pleases me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Salts and Oils by Philip Levine: A Critique
Salts and Oils is a powerful, evocative poem by Philip Levine that speaks to the human experience of labor and the toll it takes on the body and soul. Levine, who is known for his gritty, realistic portrayals of working-class life, brings his signature style to this piece, painting a vivid picture of the harsh realities faced by those who toil in the factories and fields.
The Poem
At first glance, Salts and Oils seems like a simple, straightforward poem. It consists of three stanzas, each with six lines. The language is plain and direct, without any flowery or ornate language. But the simplicity of the poem belies its depth and complexity.
First Stanza
The first stanza sets the stage for the rest of the poem. It begins with a description of the speaker's hands, which are "cracked and chapped" from labor. This image immediately establishes the theme of physical toll and sacrifice that pervades the entire piece.
The next two lines introduce the concept of salts and oils, which are used to soothe and heal the hands. The use of these materials is not described as a luxury, but rather as a necessity for those who work with their hands every day. This emphasis on practicality and the importance of self-care foreshadows the larger themes of the poem.
Second Stanza
The second stanza takes the theme of physical labor and expands it to include the toll it takes on the mind and soul. The speaker describes "the blankness of the mind" that comes after a long day of work. This blankness is not portrayed as a peaceful emptiness, but as a painful, draining experience.
The next two lines introduce the idea of "the soul's exhaustion," which is a powerful image. It suggests that the work being done is not merely physical, but also spiritual and emotional. The use of the word "exhaustion" emphasizes the extreme nature of this toll.
Third Stanza
The final stanza brings the themes of the poem together and presents a solution to the problems posed in the previous stanzas. The speaker describes the act of "rubbing the oil into the skin," which serves as a metaphor for the act of self-care and self-preservation. This act is not presented as a luxury, but as a necessary part of surviving the harsh realities of working-class life.
The repetition of the phrase "we rub and rub" emphasizes the persistence and determination required to survive in this world. The final line, "we will not be beaten," is a powerful declaration of defiance and strength in the face of adversity.
Interpretation
Salts and Oils is a poem that speaks to the experience of the working class in a powerful and poignant way. It portrays the harsh realities of physical labor and the toll it takes on the body and soul. But it also offers a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the importance of self-care and determination in the face of adversity.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its emphasis on the practicality of self-care. The use of salts and oils is not portrayed as a luxury, but rather as a necessary part of survival. This emphasis on practicality speaks to the realities of working-class life, where self-care is often seen as a luxury that cannot be afforded.
The poem also emphasizes the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "we rub and rub" emphasizes the persistence required to survive in this world. The final line, "we will not be beaten," is a powerful declaration of defiance and strength in the face of adversity.
Finally, the poem portrays the toll that physical labor takes on the mind and soul. The blankness of the mind and the exhaustion of the soul are powerful images that speak to the spiritual and emotional toll of labor. This emphasis on the emotional toll of labor is often overlooked in discussions of working-class life, but it is an important aspect of the experience.
Conclusion
Salts and Oils is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the realities of working-class life. It portrays the harsh toll that physical labor takes on the body, mind, and soul. But it also offers a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the importance of self-care and determination in the face of adversity.
The poem's emphasis on the practicality of self-care and the importance of persistence and determination in the face of adversity make it a powerful and relevant work for anyone who has experienced the realities of working-class life. It is a reminder that even in the harshest of circumstances, there is always hope and strength to be found.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Salts and Oils: A Poem of Labor and Love
Philip Levine's poem "Salts and Oils" is a powerful exploration of the relationship between work and love, and the ways in which they intersect and inform one another. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Levine takes us on a journey through the world of manual labor, showing us the beauty and brutality of the work, and the deep emotional connections that can be forged through it.
The poem begins with a description of the speaker's job as a "laborer in a chemical plant," where he works with "salts and oils" that are "hot and heavy and dangerous." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing the speaker as a hardworking, blue-collar worker who is intimately familiar with the physical demands and risks of his job.
As the poem progresses, Levine delves deeper into the speaker's experiences on the job, painting a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, and smells of the chemical plant. We see the "huge vats of acid" and the "steam and smoke" that fill the air, and we hear the "clang and roar" of the machinery. Through these sensory details, Levine immerses us in the world of the plant, giving us a visceral sense of what it's like to work there.
But the poem is not just a description of the speaker's job; it's also a meditation on the nature of work itself, and the ways in which it can shape our lives and relationships. We see this most clearly in the second stanza, where the speaker reflects on his relationship with his wife:
"Each night I come home to her and she to me, and we sit in the small kitchen, drinking beer from the same bottle, and talking about our day, which is always the same, and always different."
Here, we see the speaker's deep love and affection for his wife, and the ways in which their shared experiences of work and life have brought them closer together. Despite the monotony of their daily routine, they find comfort and solace in each other's company, and their shared struggles and triumphs on the job give them a sense of purpose and meaning.
This theme of the interplay between work and love is further developed in the third stanza, where the speaker reflects on the physical toll that his job has taken on his body:
"My hands are rough and scarred, my back is bent, my eyes are dim, but I am strong, and I am alive, and I have her, and she has me."
Here, we see the speaker's pride in his physical strength and resilience, even as he acknowledges the toll that his work has taken on his body. But more importantly, we see the deep emotional connection that he shares with his wife, and the ways in which their love has sustained him through the hardships of his job.
The poem concludes with a powerful image of the speaker and his wife sitting together in the kitchen, surrounded by the "smell of salts and oils" that permeates their lives. Here, we see the full circle of the poem, as the physical and emotional worlds of work and love come together in a moment of quiet intimacy and connection.
Overall, "Salts and Oils" is a deeply moving and evocative poem that explores the complex relationship between work and love, and the ways in which they shape our lives and identities. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Levine takes us on a journey through the world of manual labor, showing us the beauty and brutality of the work, and the deep emotional connections that can be forged through it. Whether you're a blue-collar worker or a white-collar professional, this poem speaks to the universal human experience of finding meaning and purpose in our work, and finding love and connection in the people we share our lives with.
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