Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's poem "Summer" explores themes of memory, conflict, and the passage of time through vivid imagery and a reflective tone. Set at Ox Bow beach, the poem captures a moment in the heat of August, where the oppressive sun and the surrounding environment evoke a sense of discomfort and unease. The poem’s narrative structure follows a day in the life of the speaker, who is entangled in both physical and emotional struggles, symbolized by his interactions with the lake, the old man, and the past.

The poem opens with a striking image: "At Ox Bow beach, the August sun a rake / That ground the skull." This metaphor immediately sets the tone of harshness and relentlessness. The speaker is at the lake, attempting to navigate through the mud and reeds, a task that seems both futile and burdensome: "Whipping away the strangling spawn of weeds." The description of the sun as "hunting even here" suggests an inescapable, pervasive force, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

As the speaker dives into the lake, he encounters remnants of human activity—"squashed-in beer cans"—juxtaposed with natural beauty, such as the "trumpet yellow lily." This contrast between pollution and purity highlights the complexity of the environment and, by extension, the speaker's inner turmoil. The old man, who is present but detached, growls commands and curses the lake, embodying a sense of bitterness and discontent.

The setting transitions to dusk, where the speaker engages in the futile act of casting without a hook, symbolizing a sense of hopelessness and stagnation. The "sky was closing round the reel's thin scream," an evocative image that conveys a sense of impending doom or closure. The old man, swinging back and forth beneath a broken oak, represents the passage of time and the weight of the past. The tree, which moans loudly, suggests the strain and inevitability of decay, awakening the old man from his slumber.

Under a bare electric light, the speaker and the old man engage in a game of rummy, a scene filled with tension and underlying conflict. The speaker cheats to avoid winning, highlighting the complex dynamics of their relationship, where even victories are hollow and burdened with cost. The old man pays grudgingly, his wallet "stuffed and frayed with trust," indicating a life worn down by repeated disappointments and betrayals.

Night brings a sense of unease and foreboding, as the speaker hears a "human laugh that couldn't be a bird," prompting fear and an urgent need to wake the old man. The ambiguity of this sound—whether real or imagined—intensifies the atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty. The poem concludes with the speaker contemplating leaving the old man behind but ultimately staying, not out of a sense of duty or connection, but because of an unspoken, inevitable bond with what he knows is coming.

Levine’s "Summer" captures the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time through rich, evocative imagery and a contemplative narrative. The oppressive heat, the decaying environment, and the strained interactions between the speaker and the old man all contribute to a sense of inevitable decline and unresolved tension. The poem’s exploration of memory, conflict, and endurance resonates with the reader, offering a poignant reflection on the human condition.

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