Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Suit" by John Ashbery delves into the complexities of perception and the elusive nature of understanding. The poem navigates a landscape of fragmented memories and uncertain realities, reflecting on the human experience's transient and often inexplicable nature.

The opening line, "The audience was scattered forever, and the story left untold, "from the film "Careful" by Guy Maddin, "sets a tone of unresolved narratives and dispersal. Guy Maddin, known for his surreal and dream-like cinematic style, often explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and the subconscious. His work "Careful," with its emphasis on unspoken narratives and dispersed audiences, echoes Ashbery's fascination with the ephemeral and the enigmatic in human experience. This introduction suggests a collective experience that has been irretrievably lost or fragmented, emphasizing the theme of incomplete understanding and the limitations of collective memory.

The suggestion to take something "up to the fifth floor and see" implies an attempt to gain a higher perspective or deeper insight. The "fifth floor" could symbolize a level of heightened awareness or understanding, but the outcome remains uncertain. The poem implies that even with increased perspective, there are experiences and corners of life that remain unknowable or unexplored.

The mention of a "new city" and a "new apartment building, now vacant," conveys a sense of impermanence and change. The imagery of the moth unknowingly trapped in a spider's web reflects the human condition's fragility and the inevitability of fate.

The casual act of drinking tea and discussing a doll collection in a museum contrasts with the poem's more profound existential themes. This juxtaposition highlights the mundane and the extraordinary's coexistence in human life, underscoring how ordinary moments can be infused with deeper significance.

The poem then shifts to a more introspective tone, acknowledging the challenges of breathing and the uncertainty of life's journey. The reference to Mr. Cheeseworth, a character who is "always so right in his calculations," suggests reliance on external guidance or authority. However, the poem implies that such guidance is ultimately unreliable or absent when most needed.

The concluding lines reflect on the unpredictability of life and the human struggle to make sense of it. The imagery of manna falling softly, tasting like coconut or sherbet, symbolizes the unexpected and unexplained aspects of existence. The final observation that "clothes never do fit" metaphorically suggests that human beings continually grapple with their identities and roles, often finding them ill-suited or uncomfortable.

Overall, "Suit" is a contemplative piece that explores themes of impermanence, the search for understanding, and the inherent uncertainties of the human condition. Ashbery's use of vivid imagery and fragmented narrative invites readers to reflect on the complexities of perception and the elusive nature of meaning in our lives.

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