Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's "I've Been Asleep" is a contemplative and introspective poem that captures the subtle, yet profound transformations that occur during sleep and the transition from night to day. The poem is divided into two parts, each offering a different perspective on change, memory, and renewal.

In the first part, Levine uses stark and surreal imagery to depict a state of suspended animation and quiet introspection. The opening lines, "My hand lies open / on the black page of the air / the fingers count nothing / not even themselves," evoke a sense of stillness and detachment. The hand, a symbol of agency and action, is rendered inert and disconnected from its usual function. This image suggests a moment of rest or inaction, a pause in the rhythm of life.

The voice in the poem "hums its own song / going out and coming back / and there's no sadness in it," indicating a self-contained, cyclical process. The absence of sadness suggests a sense of acceptance or contentment, a peaceful coexistence with the passage of time and the ebb and flow of consciousness.

The image of "the last warehouse closes down / banging its iron lids" signifies an end or closure, perhaps metaphorically indicating the end of a cycle or a period of activity. The subsequent emergence of a river "drop by drop / running over the paws of mice" from sagging pipes introduces a sense of quiet persistence and the continuity of life even in the most unexpected places. This image highlights the resilience of nature and the subtle, yet relentless, movement of time.

Levine introduces a personal element with the depiction of his mother dreaming: "her shiny purse is empty at last / she goes to the open window and laughs." The empty purse could symbolize the end of material concerns or worries, and the act of laughing at the open window suggests a release, freedom, and a joyful embrace of the present moment.

In the second part, the poem shifts to the morning and the tangible changes it brings. The imagery becomes more vibrant and dynamic: "a long vein of lettuce unclenches the earth, / squash trumpet their blossoms at the sun / the onions are higher / coming into their purple crowns." These lines capture the vitality and renewal of the natural world, with plants asserting their presence and growth in the light of the new day.

The "smears of dust hang over the hills / where the trucks wound down / bringing home their cartons of silence" evokes the remnants of past activity and the quiet aftermath. The dust symbolizes both the residue of previous actions and the calm that follows. The "cartons of silence" brought home by the trucks suggest a pause or a period of reflection after the hustle and bustle.

The closing lines of the poem, "I lean forward slowly into water / my hands lifting me into cold water / slipping between my fingers," depict a personal moment of immersion and renewal. The act of leaning into water signifies a willingness to embrace change and cleanse oneself of the past. The cold water, slipping between the fingers, underscores the transient nature of life and the fleeting quality of each moment.

"I've Been Asleep" by Philip Levine is a meditation on the passage of time, the cycles of activity and rest, and the quiet transformations that occur both within us and in the world around us. Through his use of vivid imagery and reflective tone, Levine captures the delicate balance between stillness and movement, past and present, inviting readers to consider their own experiences of change and renewal.

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