Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"GRAPEVINE," by John Ashbery, is a poem that delves into the complexities of perception, identity, and the interconnectedness of human experiences. Ashbery's style often embraces ambiguity and open-endedness, allowing for multiple interpretations.

The poem begins with a reflection on the collective understanding of identity: "Of who we and all they are / You all now know." This suggests a realization or acknowledgement of the collective and individual identities within a social context. The phrase "you all now know" could imply a shared knowledge or a common understanding that has been reached within a community or group.

The line "After they began to find us out we grew / Before they died thinking us the causes / Of their acts" introduces a theme of discovery and misperception. It seems to speak to a situation where others have come to understand or "find out" something about the speaker and their group, leading to growth or change. However, this understanding is tinged with a sense of misunderstanding or misattribution, as others die believing the speaker and their group to be the cause of their actions. This could be interpreted as a commentary on how people often seek to find reasons or causes for their actions in external factors or others.

The poem then moves into a contemplation of mortality and knowledge: "Whom must we get to know / To die, so you live and we know?" This could be read as an existential query about the nature of life and death. The speaker seems to be asking what or who needs to be understood or known for the cycle of life and death to continue, implying that understanding and knowledge are integral to the process of living and dying. It's as if the act of dying imparts knowledge or life to others, suggesting a cyclical or reciprocal relationship between life and death, knowledge and ignorance.

Overall, "GRAPEVINE" is a thought-provoking poem that explores themes of identity, perception, and the interplay between life, death, and knowledge. Ashbery's use of ambiguous language and open-ended questions invites readers to ponder the deeper connections and meanings within their own lives and the broader human experience.

POEM TEXT: https://writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88v/grapevine.html

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...