Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Two Sonnets: 2. The Idiot" by John Ashbery explores themes of isolation, alienation, and fleeting connections in the context of a world that seems indifferent to the individual's existence. Through the voice of the speaker, who self-identifies with the derogatory term "idiot," Ashbery delves into the profound loneliness and search for belonging that characterizes much of the human experience. This sonnet, like many of Ashbery's works, juxtaposes personal emotion with broader existential queries, using vivid imagery and narrative to probe the depths of identity and recognition.

The poem begins with a lamentation of the world's indifference: "O how this sullen, careless world / Ignorant of me is!" The speaker feels unseen and unknown, not only by the people ("These rocks, those homes") but also by nature itself ("nor is there one tree / Whose shade has known me for a friend"). This opening sets a tone of profound isolation, suggesting that the speaker's existence has left no imprint on the world, nor has the world offered any solace or companionship in return.

"I’ve wandered the wide world over" speaks to a quest for connection that remains unfulfilled despite the speaker's extensive search. The absence of relationships, both human ("No man I’ve known, no friendly beast / Has come and put its nose into my hands") and romantic ("No maid has welcomed my face with a kiss"), underscores the speaker's profound sense of solitude and exclusion from the communal and intimate bonds that define human society.

However, the poem takes a turn with the memory of a journey "From Gibraltar to Cape Horn," a significant shift from the speaker's otherwise isolated existence. The mention of "friendly mariners on the boat" introduces the first and only instance of camaraderie in the poem, albeit in a context of shared adversity as they "struggled to keep the ship from sinking." This moment of connection, forged in the face of danger, contrasts sharply with the indifference of the world described in the earlier lines.

Interestingly, it is in this moment of crisis that the speaker finds a semblance of belonging—not with the stationary elements of the world (trees, rocks, homes) but with the dynamic, perilous forces of nature itself. "The very waves seemed friendly, and the sound / The pray made as it hit the front of the boat" captures a paradoxical sense of kinship with the elements that threaten their survival. The use of "pray" instead of "spray" could be a typographical error in the transcription, but if intentional, it adds a layer of spiritual or supplicatory dimension to the poem, suggesting that the confrontation with mortality elicits a deeper connection to the universe.

"Two Sonnets: 2. The Idiot" thus navigates the terrain of existential isolation, touching on the human desire for recognition and the moments of connection that can emerge, unexpectedly, in the face of shared challenges. Ashbery's use of the "idiot" as a narrator provides a poignant, if unsettling, reflection on the ways in which society marginalizes those it fails to understand, and how, paradoxically, the most genuine moments of connection may arise not in calm or acceptance but in turmoil and struggle.

POEM TEXT: https://ashberyhouse.yale.edu/two-sonnets

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...