Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Philip Levine's poem "The Midget" is a complex narrative that juxtaposes the mundanity and grittiness of a working-class bar with the surreal, almost allegorical encounter between the speaker and a diminutive yet imposing figure. Through vivid imagery and a compelling narrative voice, Levine explores themes of alienation, human connection, and the blurring of personal and collective histories.

The setting of the poem is established in the opening lines: a once politically charged cafe now turned into a dreary bar frequented by factory workers and day laborers. This shift from a place of revolutionary plotting to a mundane drinking spot highlights the passage of time and the erosion of historical significance. The bar is described in terms that evoke a sense of decay and discomfort: it "smells of cement and of urine," and the patrons are "as grey as cement." These details underscore the bleakness of the environment and the lives of those who inhabit it.

The poem introduces the midget, a figure who disrupts the monotony of the bar. He sings to himself, recounting his journey from the "starving South" to Barcelona, a city he portrays as both terrible and life-sustaining. His potbelly and somber cummerbund contrast with his otherwise diminutive stature, suggesting a complexity that defies simple categorization. The midget's songs shift from personal lament to proclamations of his own importance, asserting his significance in a world that otherwise marginalizes him.

The speaker's encounter with the midget becomes increasingly intense and personal. Initially attempting to dismiss the midget with a drink and a smile, the speaker soon finds himself unable to escape the midget's insistence. The midget's boastful declarations about his prowess and the admiration he receives from various nationalities create a surreal and somewhat uncomfortable tension. This tension reaches a peak when the midget physically engages the speaker, grasping his finger and wrist, and ultimately sitting in his lap.

As the midget sings of Americas and those who never returned or left, the speaker experiences a profound sense of entrapment and transformation. The midget's breath, tinged with the smell of anise, contrasts with his decaying cheeks, highlighting the blend of innocence and decay that characterizes his presence. The other patrons in the bar, indifferent to the interaction, eventually leave, leaving the speaker and the midget in a frozen tableau.

The poem concludes with the speaker, now a reluctant participant in the midget's performance, singing a lullaby. This act of singing, traditionally associated with comfort and care, takes on a complex and ambivalent meaning. The speaker's lullaby to the "late-born freak of the old world" suggests a merging of their fates, an acknowledgment of shared vulnerability and humanity. The final image of the bar catching fire with the morning light underscores the cyclical nature of time and the persistence of human connection amidst decay and alienation.

Levine's "The Midget" masterfully weaves together the mundane and the surreal, creating a narrative that is both grounded in the gritty realities of working-class life and imbued with a sense of mythic resonance. The poem's exploration of personal and collective histories, human connection, and the complexities of identity invites readers to reflect on the ways in which we navigate and make sense of our own experiences within the broader tapestry of life.

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