Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's poem "Bad Penny" is a reflective and poignant exploration of memory, transience, and the search for meaning amidst the mundane and the ephemeral. Through vivid imagery and a narrative that seamlessly blends past and present, Levine captures the essence of a man's journey through a cityscape that mirrors his internal landscape.

The poem opens with a historical reference to the Peace of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812, setting a tone of reconciliation and transition. The man, presumably a veteran or someone marked by significant events, takes a streetcar half-way home, indicating a journey both literal and metaphorical. The streetcar transfer at Grand Blvd signifies a moment of pause and change, reflecting the man's ongoing journey through life.

The imagery of the sky hanging just above the elms with occasional stars breaking through evokes a sense of beauty and melancholy, suggesting fleeting moments of clarity in an otherwise obscure existence. As dawn approaches, the man finishes his last cigarette, a ritualistic act that underscores a sense of finality and the passage of time. The warm wind and the hushing snow create a tranquil yet somber atmosphere as the man begins to walk, moving through familiar but silent places.

Levine's depiction of the school yard, with the first green shining through and the small, gray pond with floating curls of newspaper, evokes memories of youth and simpler times now tainted by the passage of years and the accumulation of life's debris. The act of climbing the fence, heaving up and over, symbolizes an attempt to transcend boundaries and reconnect with the past.

The scene shifts to the city blocks of brick flats, lifeless and static, except for a cardboard suitcase spilling its contents into the snow. This image of disarray and abandonment highlights the transient nature of material possessions and the impermanence of human endeavors. The suitcase's tripe, scattered and exposed, serves as a metaphor for the man's own vulnerabilities and the fragmented state of his life.

The poem's perspective shifts subtly with the line "I turned to say What happened or Our Father but he was gone," blending the narrator's voice with the man's. This merging of identities suggests a universal experience of loss and the elusive nature of understanding one's place in the world. The dimming streetlight and the disappearance of the star signify the fleeting nature of guidance and hope.

Levine then transitions to a contemplative address after the speaker's death, instructing someone to dig in the garden until they find a root like wood, symbolizing the foundational and enduring aspects of life. The metaphor of the root as "the four walls of my life" encapsulates the idea of life's structure and the intrinsic connections that define existence. The "bad penny" buried in the earth represents the burdens and regrets carried throughout life, yet the act of finding and polishing it suggests redemption and the possibility of reclaiming value from past mistakes.

The poem's final image of the bad penny glowing again through the simple acts of rubbing its face for luck and shining it with spit is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring hope for renewal and meaning. Levine's language, precise and evocative, captures the profound simplicity of life's moments and the complex interplay between memory, identity, and the passage of time.

"Bad Penny" is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life, the enduring impact of past experiences, and the search for significance in the mundane. Through his masterful use of imagery and narrative, Levine invites readers to reflect on their own journeys, the remnants they leave behind, and the potential for finding worth and beauty in the most unlikely places.

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