Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine’s “The Present” is a profound exploration of memory, time, and the ways in which the past continually informs and shapes the present. The poem intricately weaves together personal recollections with broader historical and environmental details, creating a rich tapestry of lived experience that is both specific and universal.

The poem opens with a detailed description of a day dawning slowly in a railyard behind an ice factory. The day “broods on one cinder after another,” setting a tone of contemplation and patience. This slow emergence of day, marked by the mundane and the overlooked, reflects the gradual process of recalling and piecing together memories. The image of the “brown and greasy pointer who raises his muzzle a moment and sighing lets it thud down on the loading dock” evokes a sense of weariness and resignation, themes that permeate the poem.

As the day progresses, Levine captures the transition from early morning to mid-day with meticulous detail. The mention of “water settling in a clean glass on the shelf beside the razor” and “the slap of bare feet on the floor above” brings a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The poem’s focus then shifts to the scent of rivers and other sensory details that evoke a world both familiar and distant, bridging the gap between past and present.

The narrative introduces an old man sleeping among empty bottles at the back of the plant. This figure, initially described as “not an old man,” turns out to be a vivid memory from the speaker’s past. The recounting of the man’s fall, his crude self-care, and the reaction of the teenage boys watching him captures a moment of human vulnerability and resilience. This incident, framed within the larger context of labor and survival, underscores the harsh realities faced by workers.

Levine’s narrative then shifts to a figure named Teddy the Polack, who dispenses crude wisdom about the human condition. The mention of Alcibiades and the philosophical musing on love and desire introduces a reflective, almost philosophical dimension to the poem. The juxtaposition of Teddy’s rough humor with the deeper contemplation of life’s fleeting moments highlights the complexity of human experience.

The speaker’s own memories of working alongside Baharozian and his brother bring the narrative closer to home. The description of Baharozian’s kindness, stacking cases while whistling Kate Smith songs, paints a picture of camaraderie and support in the face of hardship. The personal recollection of puberty, marked by the emergence of body hair and the self-consciousness of youth, adds another layer of intimacy and vulnerability.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the transformation of the physical landscape. The ice factory and bottling plant give way to a low brick building where gun mounts for personnel carriers are designed. This change symbolizes the constant evolution of the world and the industries that shape human lives. The mention of Froggy Frenchman’s death and the dispersal of his remains into Lake Erie and beyond serves as a poignant reminder of mortality and the impermanence of life.

The poem’s conclusion returns to the present, where the speaker awakens in a sunlit house. The mention of “the three mice still in the wall” and the wind carrying indistinct voices and scents ties the past to the present, suggesting that memories persist and intermingle with current experiences. The final image of “daylight breaking into dust” and the scent of “onions and potatoes frying” encapsulates the enduring connection between sensory experiences and memory.

“The Present” is a masterful meditation on time, memory, and the human condition. Levine’s vivid imagery and reflective tone invite readers to consider how their own pasts shape their present realities and how the mundane details of daily life carry profound significance. Through this intricate weaving of personal and collective history, Levine captures the essence of human experience, marked by resilience, vulnerability, and the enduring search for meaning.

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