Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's "On The Murder Of Lieutenant Jose Del Castillo By The Falangist Bravo Martinez" is a harrowing and poignant exploration of violence, mortality, and the silent witnesses to tragedy. The poem vividly captures the final moments of Lieutenant Jose Del Castillo's life, painting a stark picture of his death and the broader implications of political violence.

The poem references the real historical event of the murder of Lieutenant José del Castillo Sáez de Tejada, an officer in the Guardia de Asalto, which was a security force of the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. Lieutenant Castillo was assassinated on July 12, 1936, by members of the Falange, a far-right political group. His murder was a significant event that escalated the political tensions leading up to the Spanish Civil War. The assassination of Castillo was part of the larger context of political violence and reprisals that marked the period, and it was soon followed by the assassination of right-wing politician José Calvo Sotelo, which further intensified the conflict.

The poem begins with a detailed description of the shooting: "When the Lieutenant of the Guardia de Asalto / heard the automatic go off, he turned / and took the second shot just above / the sternum, the third tore away / the right shoulder of his uniform, / the fourth perforated his cheek." This brutal imagery immediately immerses the reader in the violence of the moment, emphasizing the physical impact of the bullets and the Lieutenant's gradual succumbing to his wounds.

As the Lieutenant "slid out of his comrade's hold / toward the gray cement of the Ramblas," Levine captures the transition from life to death. The Lieutenant's realization that "he would not die" contrasts with the inevitability of his fate, highlighting a moment of denial or disbelief in the face of mortality. The description of the "blue sky / smudged with clouds" as "not heaven" underscores a sense of existential emptiness and the Lieutenant's awareness of his impending death.

Levine uses powerful imagery to convey the Lieutenant's final sensations and perceptions: "The pigeons that spotted the cold floor / of Barcelona rose as he sank below / the waves of silence crashing / on the far shores of his legs." The juxtaposition of the pigeons' flight with the Lieutenant's fall emphasizes the stark divide between life and death. The "waves of silence" evoke the engulfing nature of death, as the Lieutenant's consciousness fades.

The poem also reflects on the reactions of bystanders: "The old grandfather / hawking daisies at his stand pressed / a handkerchief against his lips / and turned his eyes away before they held / the eyes of a gunman." This image of the flower seller's silent witness to the violence underscores the broader impact of the tragedy on the community. The "shepherd dogs / on sale howled in their cages / and turned in circles," adding to the sense of chaos and helplessness in the face of brutality.

Levine's meditation on the Lieutenant's death extends to a broader reflection on the nature of sacrifice and the interconnectedness of life: "There is more / to be said, but by someone who has suffered / and died for his sister the earth / and his brothers the beasts and the trees." This invocation of a universal kinship among all living beings suggests a deep sense of loss that transcends the individual tragedy of the Lieutenant's death.

The poem concludes with a haunting image of the Lieutenant's lingering presence: "The Lieutenant can hear it, the prayer / that comes on the voices of water, today / or yesterday, from Chicago or Valladolid, / and hands like smoke above this street / he won't walk as a man ever again." The metaphor of "hands like smoke" evokes the ephemeral nature of life and the enduring impact of the Lieutenant's death on the world around him. The reference to different locations, from Chicago to Valladolid, underscores the universal nature of violence and the shared human experience of grief and loss.

"On The Murder Of Lieutenant Jose Del Castillo By The Falangist Bravo Martinez" is a powerful and moving exploration of the impact of political violence and the enduring human connections that transcend individual tragedies. Through vivid imagery and poignant reflections, Philip Levine captures the profound loss and silent witnesses to an act of brutality, inviting readers to contemplate the broader implications of such violence on humanity as a whole.

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