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Analysis and comments on You Can Have It by Philip Levine

Comment 4 of 4, added on March 12th, 2008 at 3:41 AM.

I feel that its about Levine reminiscing the loss of his brother whom he
neglected due to his work... and the idea of sleeping might correspond to
fear of facing reality and wallowing in one's fantasies and dreams
instead...

Moses from Singapore
Comment 3 of 4, added on April 2nd, 2006 at 2:04 PM.

Philip Levine is actually my grandfather, or Grandpoptree as I have called
him my entire life. This poem is about him and my Uncle Eddy, his twin. Im
his youngest sons daughter. The first guy who commented is completely
wrong, and looked waaaaay too deeply into my grandpas words. Its about how
he worked the dayshift and Uncle Eddy worked the night. Thought you might
want to be well informed.

-Alexis

Alexis from United States
Comment 2 of 4, added on August 15th, 2005 at 5:19 PM.

They were twins, actually. Best poem ever.

TMH
Comment 1 of 4, added on January 30th, 2005 at 7:20 AM.

To me this poem is very evocative of grief and the numbness that allows us
the carry on. The gritty images of his brother are sharp and fit well into
the poverty and drudgery told within the poem. It doesn't hurt that my
impression of the first line was "Okay he's a younger brother" and my
impression of the last line was "Oh, God."

Clair



Information about You Can Have It

Poet: Philip Levine
Poem: You Can Have It
Added: Feb 20 2003
Viewed: 5077 times
Poem of the Day: Jan 30 2005


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