Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"October at the Window" by John Ashbery is a poem that juxtaposes the mundane and the profound, weaving together a tapestry of images and thoughts that reflect on perception, memory, and the nature of existence. Ashbery's style, characterized by its non-linear narrative and abstract imagery, challenges the reader to find coherence in a seemingly disjointed world.

The opening lines, "Do I really want to go to the city? Here there are light and cats / And birds that live in the sky," present a contrast between the desire for urban life and the simple, pastoral elements of the current setting. This tension between the urban and the rural, the complex and the simple, sets the stage for the exploration of deeper themes throughout the poem.

Ashbery's reference to "metal that must be painted or / It will rust" suggests the inevitable decay of the material world, hinting at themes of mortality and the transient nature of life. This idea of impermanence and the passage of time is further explored with the imagery of snow bursting along green buildings and the "emptiness" that opens out along the poet's arms.

The poet's contemplation on existence is encapsulated in the line, "Always / There are instances, like the sea, / The sky, and paper." These elements represent the vast, the intangible, and the recordable aspects of human experience, suggesting a search for meaning in the grand and the mundane.

The middle section of the poem delves into literary and historical references, with the mention of "Thomas Lovell Beddoes" and his "books of iron." This allusion may signify the weight of history and literature in shaping human consciousness and the struggle to comprehend the past.

The phrase “My eyes are bigger than my stomach” introduces a metaphor for the human tendency to desire more than one can handle or understand. It reflects the insatiable curiosity and ambition of the human spirit, juxtaposed with the limitations of human capacity.

As the poem progresses, Ashbery reflects on the nature of perception and the importance of being aware of "the edges of things." This awareness is seen as key to understanding the intersections and connections that make up the fabric of existence.

The poem concludes with a series of images that blend the beautiful with the broken – "flowers in shacks, broken / Mirrors among fallen doorposts." This imagery suggests resilience in the face of decay and the persistence of beauty and meaning amidst ruin. The "lesson, unlearned" and the "wry whimper" hidden in congruent pages may refer to the elusive nature of understanding and the ongoing human quest to make sense of life.

In "October at the Window," Ashbery presents a meditation on the human condition that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Through a collage of images and ideas, the poem invites the reader to contemplate the complexities of perception, memory, and existence.

POEM TEXT: https://ashberyhouse.yale.edu/october-window

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