Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's poem "Poem" is a lyrical and enigmatic exploration of longing, perception, and the interplay between nature and human experience. Known for his complex and often elusive style, Ashbery crafts a narrative that weaves together a tapestry of images and sensations, inviting a multitude of interpretations.

The poem opens with a scene of walking under a sky, the road "strangely lit by lamps," setting a tone of surreal and dreamlike quality. The speaker expresses a desire for peace, a respite from the mundane or intrusive aspects of life, represented by the "tradesmen who tried cutting my hair."

The imagery of a white word waiting under the lips and hanging from a cliff like the sky introduces themes of unspoken thoughts or unarticulated truths, poised at the edge of revelation. The sky becomes a central motif, symbolizing the vastness and mystery of the universe and the human desire to reach and understand it.

The journey to the top, a metaphor for achievement or enlightenment, is marked by a day of waiting, suggesting anticipation and the passage of time. The speaker's act of moistening crystal hair conveys a sense of preparation or transformation, a readiness to embrace what lies ahead.

The repetition of the word "peace" underscores a longing for tranquility and harmony, both within and in the external world. The broken sky of peace implies a fractured or imperfect reality, yet there remains a yearning for serenity.

The stanza contemplating a roomful of people waiting to die in peace introduces a somber tone, reflecting on the inevitability of mortality and the human desire for dignity and calm at life's end. The procession of lamps brought in suggests a ritual or ceremony, perhaps illuminating the path towards the end.

The poem then shifts to a more abstract contemplation of hair as a symbol of beauty or vitality, set against the backdrop of a waiting sea and an unreachable top. This imagery evokes a sense of unfulfilled desire and the insurmountable nature of certain aspirations.

The reference to falling lamps beyond a desert suggests the fading of light or hope in a barren landscape, a metaphor for disillusionment or loss. The "enslaved crystal mountains of hair" further develop the theme of beauty constrained or trapped.

The poem concludes with a return to the motifs of the sky, peace, and the top. The intertwining of these elements reflects the complex relationship between aspiration, the natural world, and the quest for inner tranquility. The final lines, "The top is lamps / Peace to the fragrant hair / Waiting for a tropical sky," suggest a resolution or acceptance, a merging of longing with the acceptance of reality.

In summary, "Poem" by John Ashbery is a richly layered and evocative work that delves into themes of longing, the search for understanding, and the relationship between the self and the cosmos. Through a blend of vivid imagery and philosophical musings, Ashbery invites readers to contemplate the nuances of the human experience, the transient beauty of life, and the eternal pursuit of peace and meaning.

POEM TEXT: https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A4IRH46ST72MDU8X/pages/ANB7S4FTPBPCIQ8P

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