Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's "In the New Sun" is a vivid, multi-layered poem that navigates through various scenes and memories, weaving together themes of labor, memory, love, and the passage of time. The poem's structure is fragmented, moving through different settings and experiences, each rich with sensory detail and emotional resonance.

The poem begins with a morning scene in Tetuan, where "Filaments of light / slant like windswept rain." This striking visual immediately immerses the reader in the setting, creating a sense of awakening and new beginnings. The orange seller and the man shaking his tassels below the window add a touch of local color and daily life, grounding the scene in a specific place and moment. The mention of water running in a tub suggests a sense of cleanliness and renewal, further emphasizing the theme of a new start.

In the next section, Levine conjures memories of childhood and first love with the image of "a row of sparkling carp / iced in the new sun." The sensory detail—"odor / of first love, of childhood, / the fingers held to the nose"—evokes a deep, nostalgic longing. The fat woman in the orange smock placing greens at the mouths and tails of the carp suggests a ritualistic or caring act, perhaps symbolizing a desire to preserve or honor the past.

The poem then shifts to a more industrial and hazardous scene, where "Blue nosed cannisters / as fat as barrels" silently slip by. The mention of "Nitro" and the story of Reuban who "lay down / to fuck-off and never woke" introduces a sense of danger and the toll of labor. The image of slivers of glass working their way through canvas gloves and burning emphasizes the harsh physical realities of work. The speaker's act of lifting black glasses in chemical light to squeeze out a sliver suggests a moment of introspection amidst the toil, where the asbestos "glows like a hand in moonlight / or a face in dreams," blending the harshness of reality with a dreamlike quality.

The poem then turns to an intimate moment, where "Pinpoints of blue / along the arms, light rushing / down across the breasts" capture the beauty and tenderness of a woman's body. The image of her belly that "three times stretched slowly moonward / in a hill of child" celebrates the miracle of childbirth and the continuity of life. This section is filled with warmth and love, contrasting with the earlier industrial scenes.

Levine then shifts to a bar scene, where "Sun through the cracked glass, / bartender at the cave end / peeling a hard-boiled egg" creates a sense of quiet and stillness. The mention of the river struggling to reach Cordoba by nightfall parallels the speaker's own sense of futility: "I will / never make it." The image of the old man in gray corduroy asleep under the stifled fan symbolizes resignation and the end of movement or progress, reinforcing the theme of stagnation and the passage of time.

In the final section, the poem returns to a scene of labor and industry, viewed from a high hill behind Ford Rouge. The imagery of "ore boats pulling / down river, the rail yards, / and the smoking mountain" paints a picture of relentless industrial activity. The city spreading east toward St. Clair, with "miles of houses, / factories, shops burning / in the still white snow," captures the juxtaposition of growth and destruction. The father's instruction to "Share this with your brother" underlines the harsh, enduring reality of winter and work, encapsulating the poem's exploration of familial bonds and the inescapable cycle of labor and survival.

"In the New Sun" is a richly textured poem that moves seamlessly between personal memory, intimate moments, and broader societal themes. Through its fragmented structure and vivid imagery, Levine invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life, the persistence of memory, and the beauty and hardship that coexist in everyday experiences.

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