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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Philip Levine's "To P.L., 1916-1937; A Soldier of the Republic" is a haunting and elegiac poem that delves into the harsh realities of war and the poignant aftermath of a soldier's death. Through vivid imagery and poignant narrative, Levine commemorates the anonymous soldier's life and the small, often forgotten acts of human interaction that continue after his demise. The poem opens with a stark image: "Gray earth peeping through snow, / you lay for three days / with one side of your face / frozen to the ground." This image of a soldier lying dead in the snow immediately sets a somber and desolate tone, highlighting the brutality and isolation of war. The soldier's face, frozen to the ground, signifies a life abruptly halted and a body becoming part of the earth. Levine describes the soldier's belongings being appropriated by an old country woman of Aragon. She steals his black Wellingtons, gray hunting socks, and a slender knife, actions that are both practical and symbolic. These items, once personal possessions, become part of the woman's daily life, illustrating the continuance of ordinary existence amid the chaos of war. Her act of spitting on her thumb and rubbing it against her forefinger before taking the items underscores the earthy, pragmatic nature of her actions. The woman’s handling of the knife, running her finger down the blade and laughing despite having no meat to cut, captures a moment of dark humor and irony. Her laughter contrasts with the solemnity of the soldier's death and the bleakness of the situation. The poem then shifts to her later life, where the memory of the soldier's frozen body haunts her even at her table, causing her to turn away from her food and open her eyes to darkness. Levine portrays the woman as a figure of resilience and pragmatism. She wears the soldier's boots for seven weeks, stuffing them with rags to make them fit. Her understanding of why the soldier lay down to rest, even in the snow, reflects a shared recognition of the weariness brought on by war. Eventually, she gives the boots and socks to her nephew, ensuring that the soldier's possessions continue to serve a purpose. The knife, a symbol of the soldier’s life and death, remains in use, its handle worn white and the blade thin from cutting meat. The persistence of the knife’s use underscores the ongoing legacy of the soldier’s existence, even as the woman who took it is now gone. Levine concludes the poem by returning to the landscape of the soldier’s death. In spring, the road to Huesca is adorned with wild jonquils, curling grasses, and blood-red poppies, but no one searches for the fallen soldier among these symbols of renewal and life. The imagery of the wind breathing down from the mountains and shaking the stunted pines evokes a sense of continuity and the indifferent passage of time. "To P.L., 1916-1937; A Soldier of the Republic" is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the enduring impact of small, personal gestures amidst the backdrop of war. Levine’s vivid descriptions and reflective narrative capture the complexity of human experience, commemorating the soldier’s life and the ways in which his memory persists through the lives of those who interacted with his remains. The poem serves as a powerful reminder of the personal cost of war and the small acts of humanity that endure beyond the battlefield.
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