Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's poem "Pathetic Fallacy" is a richly textured and thought-provoking work that delves into themes of perception, reality, and the interplay between the mundane and the metaphysical. Characteristic of Ashbery’s style, the poem is filled with enigmatic imagery and a non-linear narrative that invites diverse interpretations.

The poem opens with a scene of interaction between the speaker and a "thaumaturge" or miracle-worker, who is poking holes in the speaker's trope, or figurative way of speaking. This act can be seen as a metaphor for challenging or deconstructing established ideas and perceptions.

The "theorem" mentioned in the poem is described as just complicated enough, suggesting a balance between simplicity and complexity in understanding or philosophy. The references to the "governor" peeling "no more shadow apples" and the "lemon of Descartes" rising on the skyline blend the ordinary with the philosophical, evoking images of power, illusion, and enlightenment.

The imagery of children in drawers and the act of shoveling them out is surreal and disconcerting, possibly symbolizing innocence trapped or hidden in the complexities of life. The statement that shopping had never been so tenuous introduces a theme of consumerism and the fragility of modern life's comforts.

The poem then shifts to a reflective tone, with the speaker interrogating the night from a balcony, seeking wisdom or fortune ("psalms or coins") from the darkness. This scene suggests a search for meaning or answers in the unknown or the void.

Ashbery's use of the phrase "bedizened answer" implies a response that is excessively decorated or embellished, highlighting the difficulty in finding clear or straightforward answers in life. The poem plays with the idea of expectations versus reality, with things being like "something else, or it wasn’t."

The "ditches" bringing it home dramatically to the horizon and the airport being socked in evoke a sense of closure or confinement, contrasting with the vastness of the sky and the possibilities it represents.

The description of "we" as "only mad clouds" and the reference to a "dauphin's reach from civilisation" blend the ethereal with the concrete, illustrating the distance between ideals and reality. The mention of "perfumed citadels" and "quotas" suggests a critique of societal structures and norms.

The poem's closing lines, with the "ebony cage" claiming its constituents and the sense of relief that the affair had ended, suggest a conclusion or resolution, albeit one that may not be entirely satisfying or clear. The imagery conveys a feeling of entrapment or inevitability, with life's experiences being something to endure or survive.

In summary, "Pathetic Fallacy" by John Ashbery is a complex and evocative poem that explores the intricacies of human experience, the search for understanding, and the contrast between the ideal and the real. Through vivid imagery and a shifting narrative, Ashbery invites readers to reflect on the nature of reality, the quest for meaning, and the often ambiguous and elusive nature of truth and perception.

POEM TEXT: http://cordite.org.au/poetry/unthemed4/the-pathetic-fallacy/

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