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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The opening lines, "The car bounds forward eagerly, and for a moment it's like Madrid: a taste of cinnamon and something almost too unimportant to mention," immediately immerse the reader in a sensory experience. The comparison to Madrid and the taste of cinnamon evoke a sense of travel and exoticism, while the mention of something "almost too unimportant to mention" introduces a theme of the overlooked or mundane aspects of experience. The phrase "A sense of morning without any of the particulars that morning is" captures a feeling of time and place that is both specific and elusive. This could be interpreted as a reflection on the nature of memory, where certain feelings or impressions remain while specific details fade. The anecdote of inviting the fish over to talk about high school introduces an element of the surreal. The casual mention of sodomy and the shift to playing cards represent a juxtaposition of the serious and the trivial, a common theme in Ashbery's poetry. This blending of disparate elements reflects the complexity and unpredictability of human interactions. The recognition that "there had been such a beautiful evening" suggests a moment of collective realization or appreciation, a contrast to the earlier, more fragmented narrative. This shift highlights the poem's exploration of the ways in which people come to understand and value their experiences. The speaker's desire to be "romantic" and the contemplation of sentiment and sentimentality reflect a longing for deeper emotional connection. The reference to "faded lips on a post" evokes a sense of lost or diminishing passion. The speaker's self-imposed restriction to being "only monastic and neat" suggests a tension between desire and restraint, or between the personal and the ascetic. The closing imagery of the "cute" being "always with us" and the "miniature armada with an ad on every sail" out on the bay and the river presents a striking visual scene. This could symbolize the omnipresence of superficiality or commercialism in contemporary life, contrasting with the more introspective and nuanced exploration of emotion earlier in the poem. Overall, "At Liberty and Cranberry" is a thought-provoking and multi-layered poem that delves into the complexities of memory, sensation, and emotional experience. Ashbery's unique blend of vivid imagery and associative logic creates a narrative that invites the reader to navigate its depths, uncovering layers of meaning and emotion along the way. The poem stands as a testament to Ashbery's ability to capture the intricacies and paradoxes of the human condition. POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Can_You_Hear_Bird/RCl5BAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOUSE WITH THE MARBLE STEPS by AMY LOWELL ON LIVING, FROM LIFE IS A DREAM by PEDRO CALDERON DE LA BARCA TO LEIGH HUNT, ESQ. by JOHN KEATS ON A GRAVE IN CHRIST-CHURCH, HANTS by OSCAR FAY ADAMS THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): THE MOVING ROCKS by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE FORTIES by THOMAS BARNARD THE DEBT by KATHARINE LEE BATES |
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