Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Short-Term Memory" by John Ashbery presents a kaleidoscopic view of the mind's fleeting and fragmented perceptions. The poem is characteristic of Ashbery's style, which often eschews linear narrative in favor of a more associative, stream-of-consciousness approach. This technique creates a dreamlike atmosphere where ideas, images, and conversations ebb and flow in an almost subconscious manner.

The poem opens with the line "A few things came to observe me," immediately placing the speaker in a passive role, as though life's events are watching him rather than the other way around. This inversion of the typical subject-object relationship sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which continues to play with perspective and expectation.

Ashbery's poem is filled with seemingly disconnected elements: "a terrible explosion," "flowers," "dustiness in the boroughs," and "planners plagued by increasingly goofy proposals." These disparate images suggest the chaotic influx of information and stimuli that one experiences in daily life. The speaker's response to these observations is casual and nonchalant, indicative of the way we often process and quickly forget the myriad details that surround us.

The reference to "the heat" and its unrecognized effects on the speaker could be a metaphor for the overwhelming nature of modern life and the difficulty of maintaining awareness in the face of constant sensory input. The mention of "life as a sandbar" further emphasizes the theme of transience and the elusive nature of reality and memory.

As the poem progresses, the speaker engages in mundane small talk, asking about familiar people and their activities. This slice of normalcy amidst the poem's surreal imagery highlights the contrast between everyday social interactions and the deeper, more abstract thoughts that occupy our minds.

The ending lines, "What about your immortal soul? / I may have lost it, just this once," introduce a moment of existential reflection, suggesting a concern with deeper, more enduring aspects of existence amidst the fleeting impressions of short-term memory. The closing image of a child's bright watercolor contrasts with the earlier, more ephemeral imagery, hinting at the potential for clarity and vividness in our perceptions, even if they are often obscured by the clutter of immediate experience.

In "Short-Term Memory," Ashbery captures the fragmented, often overwhelming nature of contemporary consciousness. The poem invites readers to contemplate the ways in which we perceive and remember our experiences, and how these processes shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

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