Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "And You Know" is an evocative and richly layered poem that weaves together themes of memory, education, passage of time, and the journey of life. Ashbery, known for his complex and often elusive poetry, uses a blend of vivid imagery and narrative to create a tapestry that invites deep contemplation and interpretation.

The poem opens with the image of girls in an old schoolhouse, "protected by gold wire from the gaze / Of the onrushing students." This setting establishes a sense of protection and separation, suggesting a world within a world where the girls exist in a kind of suspended reality, akin to a "vacuum."

The description of the night sky over the schoolhouse, filled with "comets, shooting stars, twirling planets," and other celestial phenomena, creates a sense of wonder and the vastness of the universe. This imagery serves as a backdrop to the more grounded and mundane setting of the schoolhouse, juxtaposing the infinite with the finite.

The presence of the teacher, with his "vase of tears" and his reflections on his own childhood and his role as an educator, introduces a character who is both a guide and a reflective figure. His statement "I was a child / once / Under the spangled sun. Now I do what must be done" speaks to the journey from innocence to responsibility, a theme that resonates throughout the poem.

The teacher's open door and his declaration that "the great heat / warms me" suggest a welcoming, nurturing presence, someone who is both open to the world and comforted by his role within it. The exhortation to imitate him and the reflection on the nature of living and dying ("For as a man lives, he dies") delve into the philosophical, exploring the connection between how one lives their life and their eventual passing.

The poem then shifts to a more expansive perspective, with the speaker and an unnamed companion envisioning travels to various places around the world. This section conveys a sense of wanderlust and the desire to experience the richness of the world, with references to "heavenly Naples" and other exotic locales.

The contemplation of the teacher being caught in the "flounces" of his pupil's dress introduces an element of entrapment or ensnarement, suggesting that even those who guide can be overwhelmed by the very subjects they seek to instruct.

As the poem draws to a close, the speaker and their companion bid farewell to the teacher and embark on their own journey, leaving behind the confines of the school and the familiar. The final image of flying to "the nearest star, whether it be red like a / furnace, or yellow," symbolizes a departure from the known to the unknown, carrying the lessons learned "in our hearts."

"And You Know" is a poignant and thought-provoking poem that captures the complexities of the human experience, the journey from youth to maturity, and the endless quest for knowledge and understanding. Ashbery's use of surreal imagery and narrative creates a dreamlike atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and imagination, inviting the reader to explore the depths of meaning within the poem.

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