Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's poem "On His Reluctance to Take Down the Christmas Ornaments" presents a unique and contemplative exploration of time, memory, and the resistance to change. Ashbery, known for his complex and layered poetic style, uses vivid imagery and unconventional narrative structures to delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of seemingly mundane activities.

The poem opens with the phrase "A nice, normal morning," immediately setting a tone of everyday routine. However, this normalcy is quickly juxtaposed with surreal and unexpected imagery, such as "feet setting out as though in a trance" and a "doubled man under the stairs." These images suggest a sense of disconnection or alienation from the ordinary flow of life, implying that the speaker is experiencing a sense of detachment or otherness even in familiar surroundings.

The reference to "strange surrealist fish from so much disappearance, damaged in the mail" evokes a sense of loss and the distortion of memory. This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way experiences and memories become altered and fragmented over time, like objects damaged in transit. The fish, often a symbol of the subconscious, hints at the deeper, unseen forces at play in the speaker's reluctance to let go of the past.

The phrase "Or the spry cutting edge of another day" contrasts with the previous imagery, suggesting a new beginning or a different perspective. Yet, this sense of renewal is tempered by the following lines, which depict the day as "fluttering by" and being overtaken by ivy, an image of relentless growth and perhaps the inescapable passage of time.

The mention of "Mouse teams unslay it, yeomen can't hear yet" adds a whimsical, almost nonsensical element to the poem. This could be interpreted as a comment on the futility of trying to control or comprehend the inexorable march of time, as represented by the persistent growth of the ivy.

A "shadow purling, up into the sky" introduces a visual element of something ascending or dissolving, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting nature of moments and experiences. The "silence in the vandalized vomitorium" is a striking image that combines quietness with a sense of destruction or desecration, possibly alluding to the aftermath of celebrations or the emptiness that follows them.

The concluding line, "Passivity rests its case," can be seen as the speaker's acceptance of the inevitable passage of time and the need to move on from the festive season. It suggests a resignation to the fact that time and change are beyond one's control, and there is a certain peace or resolution in accepting this.

In summary, "On His Reluctance to Take Down the Christmas Ornaments" by John Ashbery is a richly textured poem that uses surreal and vivid imagery to explore themes of time, memory, and resistance to change. Ashbery's characteristic blending of the ordinary with the extraordinary invites the reader to reflect on the complexities of human experience, the transient nature of life, and the emotional undertones of everyday actions. Through this poem, Ashbery captures the subtle interplay between the desire to hold onto the past and the inevitable need to embrace the future.

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