Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's "Second Angel" presents a surreal and poignant narrative that delves into themes of family, loss, and the inescapable presence of past traumas. Through rich, vivid imagery and a contemplative tone, Levine captures the complexity of the relationship between the speaker and his angelic brother, exploring the burden of memory and the inevitability of pain.

The poem begins with a sense of movement and direction: "We could be going home. He sits behind me." The road is described as breaking "over the charred crests," suggesting a landscape scarred by fire and destruction. This sets a tone of desolation and underscores the difficult journey the speaker and his brother are undertaking. The speaker's desire to speak contrasts with the brother's silent prayer, highlighting a disconnect between them. The sounds of the brother's prayer are likened to "the voices of farm wives, like the voices of onions," invoking a sense of familiarity and earthiness, yet also an element of strangeness.

The mention of money and the brother's ability to buy "harvests of dried-out, cured cars, vineyards of ashes" adds a layer of irony and critique of material wealth, suggesting that such possessions are ultimately worthless in the face of deeper emotional and spiritual desolation. The transformation of "burned gangs of small drawn men" into peonies along the road introduces a surreal and haunting image, symbolizing the remnants of human suffering turned into transient beauty.

The brother's face, seen in the mirror, is described as "ancient and smooth and raised," evoking a sense of timelessness and stoicism. The face "that has never cried" and is "as cold as newsprint" suggests an emotional detachment or suppression, further emphasizing the brother's angelic yet unreachable nature. The speaker's admission that "this angel is my brother" reveals a profound familial bond, yet one fraught with pain and misunderstanding.

The poem takes a darker turn as the speaker acknowledges his own madness and anger, which are visible to his brother. The act of bruising his brother's head against the doorpost and laying him by the roadside like a doll is both violent and tender, illustrating the complexity of their relationship. The brother remains calm and pliant, his eyes still open and his wings breathing in and out, symbolizing a passive acceptance of his fate and the relentless impact of the surrounding world.

The speaker's final act of turning away, smeared with dust and bloodless feathers, signifies a moment of resignation and sorrow. The imagery of the angel's fallen state and the speaker's blood-stained form underscores the profound sense of loss and the heavy burden of their shared past. The poem ends on a note of desolation, with the brother, the angel, having fallen, leaving the speaker to grapple with his emotions and the weight of his actions.

"Second Angel" by Philip Levine is a deeply moving exploration of the complexities of familial relationships and the enduring impact of past traumas. Through its powerful imagery and introspective narrative, the poem captures the tension between love and pain, the longing for connection, and the inescapable nature of loss. Levine's masterful use of language invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of grief and the ways in which we carry our histories with us, even as we seek to move forward.

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