Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Young People" unfolds as a meditation on youth, aging, and the passage of time, infused with the poet's signature blend of enigmatic imagery and reflective musing. The poem navigates through a landscape that is at once mythical and mundane, weaving together the fantastical and the everyday in a contemplation of human experience and the cycles of life.

The opening lines, "Slowly he is eating the stars-- / they are like the spines of books to him," evoke a sense of cosmic consumption intertwined with intellectual pursuit. This imagery suggests a hunger for knowledge or experience, where the stars, emblematic of vast possibilities and the unknown, are assimilated in a manner akin to reading. The caution against throwing "two ladies or locations at him" hints at the complexity of relationships and the challenges of navigating through life's choices and changes.

The designation of this space as "Nomad's Land" introduces themes of transience and belonging, casting the setting as one of perpetual movement and uncertain territory. Despite its cleanliness and seriousness, the absence of cheerfulness underscores a sense of disquiet or longing, a theme further elaborated by the appearance of "old men / in pajamas," who signify the passage of time and the eventual surrender to leisure and retrospection.

The reference to "Good times were on the phonograph" contrasts the present with a nostalgic invocation of the past, suggesting a longing for a time when joy and companionship were readily accessible. This yearning for connection and fulfillment is echoed in the lines, "Surely somebody can be his wife, / surely there are strong husbands for such women," pointing to the search for companionship and understanding between individuals.

The poem's exploration of identity and domestic life, where women "keep a rifle in the broom closet / and never ask for i.d.," paints a picture of resilience and independence. The colors described as "those of a saffron strand at evening / in disappointed August" convey a sense of beauty tinged with melancholy, reflecting the complex emotions that accompany the transitions and disappointments of life.

The closing image of rising "with the swifts, / never to know what cut us loose" captures the essence of human aspiration and the mystery of existence. This metaphor of flight, coupled with the swifts' sudden ascent, suggests liberation and the pursuit of freedom, yet acknowledges the enigmatic forces that propel us forward and shape our destinies.

"Young People" is a rich and layered poem that invites readers to reflect on the journey of life, the quest for meaning, and the interplay between youth and age, freedom and constraint. Through its evocative imagery and philosophical undertones, Ashbery offers a contemplative vision of the human condition, marked by its beauty, its complexities, and its inherent transience.

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