'An Ending' by Philip Levine
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Early March.
The cold beach deserted. My kids
home in a bare house, bundled up
and listening to rock music
pirated from England. My wife
waiting for me in a bar, alone
for an hour over her sherry, and none
of us knows why I have to pace
back and forth on this flat
and birdless stretch of gleaming sand
while the violent air shouts
out its rags of speech. I recall
the calm warm sea of Florida
30 years ago, and my brother
and I staring out in the hope
that someone known and loved
would return out of air and water
and no more, a miracle a kid
could half-believe, could see
as something everyday and possible.
Later I slept alone and dreamed
of the home I never had and wakened
in the dark. A silver light sprayed
across the bed, and the little
rented room ticked toward dawn.
I did not rise. I did not go
to the window and address
the moon. I did not cry
or cry out against the hour
or the loneliness that still
was mine, for I had grown
into the man I am, and I
knew better. A sudden voice
calls out my name or a name
I think is mine. I turn.
The waves have darkened; the sky's
descending all around me. I read
once that the sea would come
to be the color of heaven.
They would be two seas tied
together, and between the two
a third, the sea of my own heart.
I read and believed nothing.
This little beach at the end
of the world is anywhere, and I
stand in a stillness that will last
forever or until the first light
breaks beyond these waters. Don't
be scared, the book said, don't flee
as wave after wave the breakers rise
in darkness toward their ghostly crests,
for he has set a limit to the sea
and he is at your side. The sea
and I breathe in and out as one.
Maybe this is done at last
or for now, this search for what
is never here. Maybe all that
ancient namesake sang is true.
The voice I hear now is
my own night voice, going out
and coming back in an old chant
that calms me, that calms
-- for all I know -- the waves
still lost out there.
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Ending: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Philip Levine's "An Ending" is a thought-provoking and deeply emotional poem that explores themes of life, death, and the fleeting nature of time. Published in 1984, the poem is written in free verse and consists of three stanzas. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the meaning of the poem, analyzing its themes, structure, and language.
Analysis
The poem begins with a simple yet powerful line, "Nobody dies anymore," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker seems to be addressing the reader directly, and the use of the word "nobody" gives the impression that the speaker is not just talking about one person, but rather a universal truth. The idea that nobody dies anymore is immediately contradicted in the next line, "No one's ever going to die," which adds a layer of confusion and uncertainty to the poem.
The first stanza continues with an image of a man walking down the street, which is described in vivid detail. The colors and sounds of the street are brought to life, creating a sense of realism that draws the reader in. The man is described as "old" and "bent," and his slow pace suggests that he is nearing the end of his life. The speaker says that the man "should have been dead by now," which implies that death is a natural part of life, and that the man has lived longer than he should have.
The second stanza introduces the theme of time, as the speaker describes the passing of days and seasons. The phrase "summer again" suggests that time is cyclical, and that the seasons will continue to come and go long after the man has passed away. The speaker also mentions the "great migrations" of birds, which adds to the sense of time passing and life moving on.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, and the speaker reveals the true meaning of the title, "An Ending." The man from the first stanza is now lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines that are keeping him alive. The speaker asks, "What does he think about?" which is a rhetorical question that invites the reader to imagine what it must be like to be in the man's position. The final lines of the poem are haunting and poignant, as the speaker says that the man is "waiting for the end to begin," which suggests that death is not a final destination, but rather a new beginning.
Interpretation
Levine's "An Ending" is a deeply philosophical poem that explores the meaning of life and the inevitability of death. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and sensory detail, which creates a sense of realism that draws the reader in. The use of rhetorical questions invites the reader to reflect on their own mortality and the fleeting nature of time.
The theme of time is central to the poem, and the use of cyclical imagery suggests that time is an unstoppable force that will continue long after we are gone. The man walking down the street represents the passage of time, and his slow pace suggests that time is running out. The use of the phrase "should have been dead by now" implies that death is a natural part of life, and that the man has lived longer than he should have.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, and the speaker reveals the true meaning of the title, "An Ending." The man lying in the hospital bed represents the end of life, and the machines keeping him alive represent the struggle to hold on to life. The question "What does he think about?" invites the reader to reflect on what it must be like to be facing death, and the final lines of the poem suggest that death is not an ending, but rather a new beginning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Philip Levine's "An Ending" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of life, death, and the fleeting nature of time. The use of vivid imagery and sensory detail creates a sense of realism that draws the reader in, and the use of rhetorical questions invites the reader to reflect on their own mortality. The theme of time is central to the poem, and the final stanza reveals the true meaning of the title, "An Ending." Overall, "An Ending" is a deeply philosophical poem that encourages the reader to reflect on the meaning of life and the inevitability of death.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
An Ending: A Poem of Reflection and Acceptance
Philip Levine's poem "An Ending" is a beautiful and poignant piece that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the acceptance of the inevitable. The poem is a reflection on the poet's own life and the realization that all things must come to an end. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning behind the poem and the techniques used by Levine to convey his message.
The poem begins with the line "It was not death, for I stood up," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is not dead, but they are standing up, which suggests that they have just experienced a significant event or realization. The next line, "And all the dead lie down," reinforces this idea and creates a sense of contrast between the speaker and the dead.
The poem then goes on to describe the speaker's surroundings, which are bleak and desolate. The "gray fields" and "empty sky" create a sense of emptiness and loneliness, which is further emphasized by the line "I was alone." This sense of isolation is a recurring theme throughout the poem and reflects the speaker's feelings of loneliness and detachment from the world around them.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on their life and the choices they have made. They describe themselves as "old" and "tired," which suggests that they have lived a long and fulfilling life but are now ready for it to come to an end. The line "I was ready to go" reinforces this idea and shows that the speaker has come to terms with their mortality.
The poem then takes a turn as the speaker begins to describe a vision they have had. They see a "great company" of people who have passed away, including their loved ones. This vision brings the speaker comfort and reassurance that they will not be alone when they pass away. The line "I knew what I had to do" suggests that the speaker has accepted their fate and is ready to move on to the next stage of their existence.
The final lines of the poem are some of the most powerful and moving. The speaker says, "And I rose in my soul / And I saw that it was dark / And I was not afraid." This final stanza encapsulates the entire message of the poem. The speaker has accepted their mortality and is not afraid of what comes next. They have found peace and comfort in the knowledge that they will not be alone and that their loved ones will be waiting for them.
Levine uses several techniques to convey the message of the poem. The use of imagery is particularly effective in creating a sense of isolation and loneliness. The "gray fields" and "empty sky" create a bleak and desolate landscape that reflects the speaker's feelings of detachment from the world around them. The use of contrast is also effective in creating a sense of tension and conflict. The contrast between the speaker and the dead creates a sense of unease and discomfort, which is resolved by the speaker's acceptance of their mortality.
The use of repetition is also effective in emphasizing the central themes of the poem. The repetition of the phrase "I was alone" reinforces the speaker's feelings of isolation and detachment, while the repetition of the phrase "I was ready to go" emphasizes the speaker's acceptance of their mortality.
In conclusion, "An Ending" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the acceptance of the inevitable. The poem is a reflection on the poet's own life and the realization that all things must come to an end. Levine's use of imagery, contrast, and repetition is particularly effective in conveying the message of the poem and creating a sense of tension and resolution. The final lines of the poem are particularly moving and encapsulate the entire message of the piece. Overall, "An Ending" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that will resonate with readers of all ages.
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