Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's "This War" is a haunting and vivid depiction of the aftermath of conflict and the pervasive sense of despair and futility that lingers in its wake. The poem, set in May 1972, a period marked by the Vietnam War and social upheaval in the United States, evokes powerful imagery to convey the emotional and physical toll of war on individuals and society.

The poem begins with a visceral scene: "You go down to the grave and pound on the roof until the woman answers, the child cries." This line suggests a desperate attempt to communicate with the dead or to awaken the memory of those lost. The "man in his coat of fire" symbolizes a figure consumed by destruction, perhaps a soldier or a victim of war. The image of entering "the charred eye flaking into white streams" and the "voice howling in the darkened subway" evokes the chaos and trauma that persist even in the quiet moments after the conflict.

Levine's use of sensory details creates a stark contrast between the brutality of war and the mundane aspects of life that continue. The "teeth grinding stones" and "new wind stirs the thumbs of onions" blend the grotesque with the ordinary, suggesting that life goes on in the midst of horror. The mention of the wren returning signifies a small but significant sign of resilience and renewal in nature.

The imagery of the "lights of the slaughter-house burn all day" and the old mare waiting in the bricked alley adds to the sense of abandonment and neglect. The mare's loose flesh sliding against flies underscores the decay and suffering that persist long after the immediate violence has ended. The cloud passing over the sun and breaking against the mountains reflects the transient nature of hope and the persistent shadow of despair.

As the poem shifts focus to the foothills, Levine introduces a moment of natural beauty with "birch leaves lifting in surprise." This brief glimpse of nature's resilience is contrasted with the protagonist's personal anguish: "Your knees bang down on the bare floor, your forehead opens and the secrets spill out like mud." This image conveys a raw and painful confession, a release of the emotional burden carried by the survivor.

The closing lines of the poem return to the grave, with the mouth closing and the tongue lopped off at the root, symbolizing the silencing of voices and the finality of death. The "last word" coming down on a "spring day" filled with "pale ashes overflowing the basin of Los Angeles" paints a bleak picture of a city and a society overwhelmed by grief and loss. The "scum on the sea of tears coming down" reinforces the pervasive sense of sorrow and the collective mourning for the destruction wrought by war.

"This War" is a powerful and evocative exploration of the enduring impact of conflict on both the individual and the collective psyche. Through vivid and often brutal imagery, Levine captures the sense of despair, loss, and the struggle for renewal in the aftermath of violence. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience required to continue in its wake.

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