Philip Levine (poet) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Levine
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Levine reading in 2006
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| Born | January 10, 1928 Detroit, Michigan, US |
| Died | February 14, 2015 (aged 87) Fresno, California, US |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Alma mater | Wayne State University University of Iowa |
| Years active | 1963–2015 |
| Notable awards | United States Poet Laureate |
| Spouse | Patty Kanterman (1951–1953), Frances J. Artley (1954–2015) |
| Children | 3 |
Philip Levine (born January 10, 1928, died February 14, 2015) was an American poet. He was famous for writing poems about the lives of working people in Detroit.
He taught for over 30 years at California State University, Fresno. He also taught at many other universities. From 2000 to 2006, he was on the board for the Academy of American Poets. In 2011, he was named the Poet Laureate of the United States. This is a special honor for a poet.
Contents
About Philip Levine
Early Life in Detroit
Philip Levine grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit was a busy factory city at that time. He was one of three sons and had an identical twin brother. His parents were Jewish immigrants. His father, Harry Levine, owned a used car parts business. His mother, Esther Levine, sold books.
When Philip was five, his father died. As he grew up, he faced unfair treatment because he was Jewish. This was a time when a radio priest named Father Coughlin spread ideas against Jewish people.
Discovering Poetry
In high school, a teacher told him, "You write like an angel." She suggested he think about becoming a writer. At just 14, he was already working nights in car factories. He graduated from Detroit Central High School in 1946.
He then went to college at Wayne University (now Wayne State University) in Detroit. There, he started writing poetry. His mother encouraged him. He even dedicated a book of poems, The Mercy, to her.
College and Early Jobs
Levine earned his first college degree in 1950. After that, he worked at car companies like Chevrolet and Cadillac. He called these "stupid jobs" because they were so hard and boring. He later wrote that the work was "so heavy and monotonous" that he often felt he couldn't finish his shift.
In 1951, he married Patty Kanterman. They were married for two years.
In 1953, he went to the University of Iowa. He studied with famous poets like Robert Lowell and John Berryman. Levine called Berryman his "one great mentor," meaning a very important teacher.
Teaching and Family Life
In 1954, he earned a master's degree and married actress Frances J. Artley.
He returned to the University of Iowa to teach. He finished his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1957. That same year, he won a special award for poetry at Stanford University. In 1958, he joined the English department at California State University, Fresno. He taught there until he retired in 1992.
He also taught at many other universities. These included New York University, Columbia, Princeton, and University of California, Berkeley.
Philip Levine and his wife lived in Fresno and Brooklyn Heights. He passed away on February 14, 2015, at age 87. He died from pancreatic cancer.
Philip Levine's Poetry
Themes in His Work
A main topic in Levine's poems was the world of Detroit in the 1900s. He wrote about families, society, and the economy. He often described working-class Americans. He also explored his Jewish immigrant background through real and made-up characters. His poems give us a look into American life in the middle of the 20th century.
His own experiences working in factories made his poetry question common American ideas. In his first two books, On the Edge (1963) and Not This Pig (1968), he wrote about people who suddenly realize they are stuck in bad situations they didn't create.
Writing Style
In 1968, Levine signed a pledge to refuse tax payments. This was a protest against the Vietnam War.
His early books used more traditional forms. But later, starting with They Feed They Lion, his poems became more free-verse. This means they didn't follow strict rhyme or rhythm rules. His poems often sounded like someone talking.
The music in his poetry comes from how he breaks lines and uses sentences. For example, the poem "1933" from his book of the same name (1974) shows how he used many phrases and clauses. Other collections include The Names of the Lost and What Work Is. The book What Work Is won a National Book Award.
Later Years and Collaborations
In 2007, many famous poets and writers celebrated Levine's 80th birthday in New York City. They read his poems, and Levine also read some new ones.
Near the end of his life, Levine loved jazz music. He worked with jazz saxophonist and composer Benjamin Boone. They combined Levine's poetry and narration with music. Their CD, "The Poetry of Jazz," was released after he died in 2018. It has 14 of Levine's poems and music by him, Boone, and other jazz artists.
Awards and Honors
Philip Levine received many important awards for his poetry:
- 1973: American Academy of Arts and Letters Award
- 1977: Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize for The Names of the Lost
- 1979: National Book Critics Circle Award for Ashes: Poems New and Old and 7 Years from Somewhere
- 1980: National Book Award for Poetry for Ashes: Poems New and Old
- 1987: Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize
- 1991: National Book Award for Poetry and Los Angeles Times Book Prize for What Work Is
- 1995: Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for The Simple Truth
- 2011: Appointed United States Poet Laureate
- 2013: Academy of American Poets Wallace Stevens Award
See also
In Spanish: Philip Levine para niños
