--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There'll always be working people in my…" description: "\"There'll always be working people in my poems because I grew up with them, and I am a poet of memory.\" — Philip Levine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg" --- # There'll always be working people in my poems because I… ![“There'll always be working people in my poems because I grew up with them, and I am a poet of memory.” quote by Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg) > “There'll always be working people in my poems because I grew up with them, and I am a poet of memory.” [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet draws on everyday laborers because his memories are rooted in their lives, making work a central theme. **In simple terms:** He writes about workers because they shaped his memories. Key Takeaway Honor the lives of ordinary workers. Themes memory labor identity Mood nostalgic respectful Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - community events - labor rights rallies - school curricula on poetry - personal memoir writing Key Concepts social realism working class poetry autobiography Questions to Reflect On - What does work mean to you personally? - How can remembering workers enrich your own story? A Different Perspective Some may view focusing on labor as limiting artistic scope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-memories/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Working people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-people/) ## Related quotes > [I remember I was a child, and when I grew up I was a poet. It all happened at sixty miles an hour and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ruefle/i-remember-i-was-a-child-and-when-i-grew-up-i-was-a-poet-it-all/) [Mary Ruefle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ruefle/) > [You don't help people in your poems. I've been trying to help people all my life - that's my trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-olson/you-don-t-help-people-in-your-poems-i-ve-been-trying-to-help-people/) [Charles Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-olson/) > [Novels are about other people and poems are about yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/novels-are-about-other-people-and-poems-are-about-yourself/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [It's funny how hello always ends with a goodbye, it's funny how good memories can start to make you cry. It's funny how forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-hello-always-ends-with-a-goodbye-it-s-funny-how-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter who your true frends are, leave them alone because you've got sisters,if u know it or not! I always think of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-preston/no-matter-who-your-true-frends-are-leave-them-alone-because-you-ve/) Trinity Preston > [You're in a relationship to be happy, to smile, to laugh & to make good memories. Not to constantly be upset, to feel hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-in-a-relationship-to-be-happy-to-smile-to-laugh-to-make-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Reach for those good memories, you can't get them back but you can live to make new good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/reach-for-those-good-memories-you-can-t-get-them-back-but-you-can/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [I like Kerala a lot. The beautiful beaches there, the backwaters - I have good memories of the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/i-like-kerala-a-lot-the-beautiful-beaches-there-the-backwaters-i-have/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [The Olympics: not one of my better memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/the-olympics-not-one-of-my-better-memories/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I cherish my entire life. I've been blessed with a life full of good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/i-cherish-my-entire-life-i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-life-full-of-good/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [We are best friends we have fights we have good memories and nothing will ever break as apart we're like sisters and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-best-friends-we-have-fights-we-have-good-memories-and-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do have a really good memory. I mean, like, I can remember all the phone numbers of everybody on the street I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-do-have-a-really-good-memory-i-mean-like-i-can-remember-all-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [The good time become good memories. The bad time become good lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/the-good-time-become-good-memories-the-bad-time-become-good-lesson/) Glemar > [In BestFriend Every Letter Has A Meaning ! B:est at wat we do E:very time yuh make me laugh S:orry for wat went wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marrah-b/in-bestfriend-every-letter-has-a-meaning-b-est-at-wat-we-do-e-very/) Marrah B > [A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/a-good-memory-is-one-trained-to-forget-the-trivial/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) ## More by Philip Levine > [I find you in these tears, few, useless and here at last. Don't come back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/i-find-you-in-these-tears-few-useless-and-here-at-last-don-t-come-back/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [I'm afraid we live at the mercy of a power, maybe a God, without mercy. And yet we find it, as I have, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/i-m-afraid-we-live-at-the-mercy-of-a-power-maybe-a-god-without-mercy/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [How weightless/ words are when nothing will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/how-weightless-words-are-when-nothing-will-do/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [But I'm too old to be written about as a young poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/but-i-m-too-old-to-be-written-about-as-a-young-poet/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [But most commonly, it's one poem that I work on with a lot of intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/but-most-commonly-it-s-one-poem-that-i-work-on-with-a-lot-of-intensity/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“He embodied what he worshipped, the exquisite in the commonplace…salt for the spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/he-embodied-what-he-worshipped-the-exquisite-in-the-commonplace-salt/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“As you know, Joyce was a writer who asked his reader to give him a lifetime,” he said. “I am that reader, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/as-you-know-joyce-was-a-writer-who-asked-his-reader-to-give-him-a/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“Thirty years will pass before I remember that moment when suddenly I knew each man has one brother who dies when he sleeps and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/thirty-years-will-pass-before-i-remember-that-moment-when-suddenly-i/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“From they sack and they belly opened And all that was hidden burning on the oil-stained earth They feed they Lion and he comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/from-they-sack-and-they-belly-opened-and-all-that-was-hidden-burning/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [Corruption is subtle, just like the Bible said. Many young poets have come to me and asked, How am I gonna make it? They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/corruption-is-subtle-just-like-the-bible-said-many-young-poets-have/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“ Our Valley We don't see the ocean, not ever, but in July and August when the worst heat seems to rise from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/our-valley-we-don-t-see-the-ocean-not-ever-but-in-july-and-august/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [“The earth drinks all that’s left of you and asks for more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/the-earth-drinks-all-that-s-left-of-you-and-asks-for-more/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [I started listening to music when I wrote when I had three sons at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/i-started-listening-to-music-when-i-wrote-when-i-had-three-sons-at/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [Listen to these young poets and you'll discover the voice of the present and hear the voice of the future before the future is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/listen-to-these-young-poets-and-you-ll-discover-the-voice-of-the/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) > [My mother carried on and supported us; her ambition had been to write poetry and songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/my-mother-carried-on-and-supported-us-her-ambition-had-been-to-write/) [Philip Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) [Explore all 48 Philip Levine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/) ## More Good memories quotes > [A good memory is one trained to forget the trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/a-good-memory-is-one-trained-to-forget-the-trivial/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [In BestFriend Every Letter Has A Meaning ! B:est at wat we do E:very time yuh make me laugh S:orry for wat went wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marrah-b/in-bestfriend-every-letter-has-a-meaning-b-est-at-wat-we-do-e-very/) Marrah B > [The good time become good memories. The bad time become good lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/the-good-time-become-good-memories-the-bad-time-become-good-lesson/) Glemar > [I do have a really good memory. I mean, like, I can remember all the phone numbers of everybody on the street I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/i-do-have-a-really-good-memory-i-mean-like-i-can-remember-all-the/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [We are best friends we have fights we have good memories and nothing will ever break as apart we're like sisters and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-best-friends-we-have-fights-we-have-good-memories-and-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cherish my entire life. I've been blessed with a life full of good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/i-cherish-my-entire-life-i-ve-been-blessed-with-a-life-full-of-good/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [The Olympics: not one of my better memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-thomas/the-olympics-not-one-of-my-better-memories/) [Debi Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debi-thomas/) > [I like Kerala a lot. The beautiful beaches there, the backwaters - I have good memories of the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalki-koechlin/i-like-kerala-a-lot-the-beautiful-beaches-there-the-backwaters-i-have/) [Kalki Koechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalki-koechlin/) > [Reach for those good memories, you can't get them back but you can live to make new good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/reach-for-those-good-memories-you-can-t-get-them-back-but-you-can/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [You're in a relationship to be happy, to smile, to laugh & to make good memories. Not to constantly be upset, to feel hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-in-a-relationship-to-be-happy-to-smile-to-laugh-to-make-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter who your true frends are, leave them alone because you've got sisters,if u know it or not! I always think of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-preston/no-matter-who-your-true-frends-are-leave-them-alone-because-you-ve/) Trinity Preston > [It's funny how hello always ends with a goodbye, it's funny how good memories can start to make you cry. It's funny how forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-funny-how-hello-always-ends-with-a-goodbye-it-s-funny-how-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know, America has profoundly shaped me, and I have two American children and unbelievably rich friendships so it will always be a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/you-know-america-has-profoundly-shaped-me-and-i-have-two-american/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [You can try to replace me,but you can't replace the good memories we had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tshepang/you-can-try-to-replace-me-but-you-can-t-replace-the-good-memories-we/) Tshepang > [This Olympics is almost a little sad. It is my final Olympics. There are a lot of good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/this-olympics-is-almost-a-little-sad-it-is-my-final-olympics-there/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) [Browse all 292 Good memories quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-memories/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There'll always be working people in my poems because I grew up with them, and I am a poet of memory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Levine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my-poems-because-i-grew-up-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good memories" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my-poems-because-i-grew-up-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/philip-levine-14083_good-memories_there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my_202042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There'll always be working people in my poems because I grew up with them, and I am a poet of memory.” — Philip Levine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philip Levine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-levine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There'll always be working people in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my-poems-because-i-grew-up-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-levine/there-ll-always-be-working-people-in-my-poems-because-i-grew-up-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```