Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Variations on La Folia" by John Ashbery presents a tapestry of interconnected and divergent thoughts, showcasing the poet's characteristic blending of the surreal with the mundane. The title itself, referencing a musical theme that has been a basis for many variations throughout history, sets the tone for a poem that explores themes of change, memory, and the human condition.

The poem opens with a casual domestic scene, "Shut the window. It’s chilly in here," immediately grounding the reader in the everyday. However, Ashbery quickly moves from this familiar setting to more abstract contemplations, "It’s 'all moon and no stars' again, and I cast no shadow." This transition from the concrete to the ethereal is a hallmark of Ashbery's style, challenging the reader to navigate between different planes of reality.

Ashbery references historical figures like Clement Attlee, former British Prime Minister, juxtaposing this with personal memories and abstract imagery. This blend of personal, historical, and fantastical elements creates a rich, multifaceted narrative tapestry. The mention of "The amniotic valley" and "kids who have sway" evokes a sense of nostalgia and lost innocence, themes often explored in Ashbery's work.

The poem also delves into environmental concerns, as seen in the lines about cormorants and fish, reflecting on mankind's often destructive relationship with nature. This is further emphasized in the lines, "Man, again, is the interloper here. He takes whatever he chooses from the dish life holds out..." Ashbery critiques human arrogance and shortsightedness in our dealings with the natural world.

Towards the end of the poem, Ashbery reflects on the inevitability of change and the unpredictable nature of life. The metaphor of being "hit by the meteor of an idea" suggests a sudden, transformative understanding or insight, yet this is tempered by a sense of resignation or fatigue, as seen in the closing lines, "Please don’t tell me it all adds up in the end. I’m sick of that one."

"Variations on La Folia" is a quintessential Ashbery poem, blending whimsy with gravitas, the concrete with the abstract, and the historical with the personal. It invites the reader to explore multiple layers of meaning, each reading revealing new insights into the complexities of human experience.

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