|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Philip Levine's "On the Edge" introduces a speaker named Edgar Poe, drawing a parallel to the famed poet Edgar Allan Poe, but situating him in a more modern, relatable context. Through this intriguing persona, Levine explores themes of identity, surveillance, and the persistent shadows of the past. The poem begins with a straightforward introduction: "My name is Edgar Poe and I was born / In 1928 in Michigan." This opening immediately sets up an expectation of ordinary biographical detail, only to be subverted by the extraordinary nature of the character. The speaker's life is marked by neglect and indifference, emphasized by the stark statement, "Nobody gave a damn." The sparse sustenance, "gruel I ate / Kept me alive," and the absence of warmth convey a sense of a harsh and unloving environment. Yet, despite these hardships, the speaker has grown into adulthood, reaching "almost to five foot ten," a detail that grounds the character in physical reality. The speaker's omnipresence is established with the line, "I have been watching you these many years," indicating a long-standing, almost supernatural observation of another's life. The settings shift from the office, where the observer notes readiness, to the highway, suggesting both mundane and significant moments of life. This constant surveillance is passive; Edgar does not interfere or communicate directly, as stated, "I did not write; I watched you watch the stars / Believing that the wheel of fate was steady." The speaker's knowledge of the subject's personal life is intimate and invasive: "I saw you rise from love and go to bed; / I heard you lie, even to your daughter." These observations suggest a deep understanding of the subject's character and actions, revealing moments of vulnerability and deceit. The repetition of "I did not write" reinforces the passive nature of the observation, a choice that heightens the eerie, almost ghostly presence of Edgar Poe. The declaration, "for I am Edgar Poe, / Edgar the mad one, silly, drunk, unwise," aligns the speaker with the legendary poet known for his dark themes and troubled life. Yet, the modern Edgar Poe waits "on the edge of laughter," implying a sense of anticipation or a readiness to expose the absurdities and truths of the observed life. This Edgar possesses a comprehensive, almost omniscient knowledge: "there is nothing that he does not know / Whose page is blanker than the raining skies." This final image suggests an empty, perhaps meaningless existence observed by the speaker, whose own life remains unwritten and undefined. Levine's "On the Edge" effectively uses the persona of Edgar Poe to delve into the themes of observation, identity, and the haunting persistence of past and character. Through the modern lens of this legendary figure, Levine explores the disquieting notion of being constantly watched and judged, and the existential weight of an unwritten life, poised on the edge of revelation and self-awareness.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
| |