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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Philip Levine's "One by One" is a masterful depiction of human life interwoven with the rhythms of nature and daily labor. Through vivid imagery and a keen sense of place, Levine captures moments of transition from day to night, highlighting the resilience and quiet endurance of his subjects. The poem opens with a serene yet vibrant scene at sea: "One by one / the lights appear at sea, not the stars drowning as they must, but small boats." This image sets the tone for the entire poem, where human activity and the natural world converge. The boats, named "Dolores, Dragon Boy, St. James of the Heights," symbolize not just individual vessels but also the human stories and endeavors associated with them. The colors "orange and scarlet hulls" and the imagery of "unblinking eyes and bared teeth flashing on the prows" give the boats a lifelike, almost sentient quality, emphasizing their integral role in the lives of the fishermen. Throughout the afternoon, the scene shifts to the fishermen: "they steamed on the sand and the fishermen dozed in the buzzing shade and woke blinking in the first chill winds." Levine captures the simplicity and cyclicality of their lives, marked by rest and work, the heat of the day, and the coolness of evening. As night falls, the boats "slide into the breakers and bob out to meet the moon," continuing their relentless journey, mirroring the enduring spirit of the fishermen. In parallel to the maritime scene, Levine introduces a domestic setting: "By the open window a woman making stew, her hair falling in her eyes black strand by strand." This image brings warmth and intimacy, contrasting the expansive seascape with the close quarters of a home. The "bare bulb pulsing like a nerve" and the meticulous preparation of the stew — "her blade slashes / the hides of 12 potatoes / 6 carrots 4 onions / 2 turnips 8 tomatoes" — illustrate the labor and care involved in sustaining daily life. The woman's act of tasting and adjusting the stew symbolizes nurturing and resilience, the ordinary acts that hold families together. Levine seamlessly transitions to a military setting: "The barracks asleep just before dawn, out back / two soldiers who walked the long way in." This shift highlights another facet of human labor and endurance, as soldiers return from their duties. The description of their ritual — "They sling their carbines on the wash pole, remove their green capes and the thick tunics under them" — conveys a sense of routine and exhaustion. The soldiers' bare chests, "pale chests splotched with hollows / and clumps of hair," and their act of washing in the cold water signify both vulnerability and the necessity of cleansing away the hardships they have endured. The final lines of the poem, with the soldiers cursing their mothers, encapsulate a raw, human moment. It speaks to the frustrations and burdens that individuals carry, often directing their anger at those who brought them into the world. This moment of cursing, set against the backdrop of their routine, humanizes the soldiers, showing them as more than just uniformed figures but as men grappling with their circumstances. "One by One" by Philip Levine is a rich tapestry of human experience, juxtaposing the steady rhythms of nature with the various labors and rituals that define daily life. Through his detailed and empathetic portrayal of fishermen, a domestic worker, and soldiers, Levine honors the resilience and quiet strength of ordinary people, revealing the profound within the mundane. The poem invites readers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all life and the enduring spirit that propels us forward, one moment at a time.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK OF THE DEAD MAN (#47) by MARVIN BELL THE COMPOSER'S WINTER DREAM by NORMAN DUBIE THE EBONY CHICKERING by DORIANNE LAUX MY UNCLE'S FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE SHORT-ORDER COOK by JIM DANIELS CURIOSITY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR TROUBLE IN DE KITCHEN by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR DEATH IN THE KITCHEN by THOMAS HOOD |
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