Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"They Feed The Lion" is a poem written by Philip Levine in 1968, during a time of great social and political turmoil in America. The poem was inspired by the Detroit race riots of 1967, which were some of the most violent and destructive in the country's history. The poem is a lamentation of the violence and anger that consumed the country during this time and a call for unity and understanding.

Explanation:

"They Feed The Lion" is a poem that speaks to the violence and anger that was consuming the country during the late 1960s. Levine uses the metaphor of a lion to represent the anger and hatred that is devouring America. The lion is fed by the people who are blinded by their anger and hatred, and it grows stronger and more powerful with each passing day. The lion is a symbol of the destructive forces that threaten to tear the country apart.

The poem is written in free verse, without a regular rhyme scheme or meter. The lack of structure in the poem reflects the chaos and disorder that was present during this time in American history. The poem is composed of short, fragmented lines, which give it a sense of urgency and immediacy.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: Free verse
• Imagery: The lion as a metaphor for anger and violence, the feeding of the lion, the tearing apart of America
• Tone: Urgent, lamenting
• Repetition: The repetition of the phrase "they feed they lion" emphasizes the destructive nature of anger and hatred.
• Enjambment: The use of enjambment gives the poem a sense of momentum and urgency.

Conclusion:

"They Feed They Lion" is a powerful poem that speaks to the destructive forces of anger and hatred that threaten to tear apart America. Levine uses the metaphor of a lion to represent the consuming power of this anger and the way it grows stronger and more powerful with each passing day. The lack of structure in the poem reflects the chaos and disorder of the time, while the urgent tone and use of repetition emphasize the importance of coming together to combat this destructive force.

Poem Snippet:

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,

The Lion grow.

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