Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Allotted Spree" is a vivid and surreal exploration of memory, perception, and the unpredictable nature of human experience. Characteristic of Ashbery's style, the poem intertwines seemingly disjointed images and ideas, creating a dreamlike tapestry that challenges traditional narratives and linear thinking.

The opening line, "How the past filled its designated space with every kind of drollery," immediately sets the tone for a reflection on the nature of memory. The past is depicted as a container of sorts, filled with a variety of experiences, not just those that are straightforward or easily understood. This suggests a view of memory as a complex and often whimsical space where different kinds of recollections coexist.

Ashbery's reference to the "secret of my gospel" speaks to the idea of personal truths or beliefs that are fundamental yet elusive. The phrase "it can never be gone for too long or get too fancy" implies a sense of enduring simplicity and authenticity in these core beliefs, despite their elusive nature.

The imagery of a woman in red and ten milky-white puppy dogs chanting "You're a handful" introduces an element of the surreal. These vivid, almost hallucinatory images create a sense of a world where the unexpected and the bizarre are commonplace. The reference to the "spire of St. Diana's" lighting up the sky further adds to this atmosphere of surreal grandeur and mystery.

The line "Down where the last coitus happened, another, a new madman in a cloak and hat, was rising with the moon" continues the theme of unexpected and striking imagery. This scene, both dramatic and enigmatic, could symbolize the continual renewal and transformation of life experiences, or the cyclic nature of human behavior and desire.

Ashbery's use of phrases like "They don't let you off for these little things" and "Try imagining it" suggests a dialogue with the reader, inviting them to engage with the poem's surreal landscape. This interaction between the poem and the reader adds a layer of meta-commentary, blurring the lines between the poem's world and reality.

The closing lines, "Yes but against the sofa of your captivating lens your appetites are wizard, dear. Let's give them all a chance. On to the starboard / list of the apartment, to the gemstone-crusted tankard," are rich in metaphor and ambiguous meaning. The "captivating lens" could represent perception or artistic vision, while the "appetites" might symbolize desires or creative impulses. The reference to the "gemstone-crusted tankard" at the end adds a touch of opulence and mystery, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved intrigue.

Overall, "Allotted Spree" is a quintessential Ashbery poem, marked by its rich, surreal imagery and its open-ended, interpretive nature. The poem invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist, challenging them to find meaning in the ambiguity and complexity of human experience.

POEM TEXT:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Can_You_Hear_Bird/RCl5BAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=ALLOTTED+SPREE,+by+JOHN+ASHBERY&pg=PT22&printsec=frontcover

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...