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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem's opening lines, "It's wind, it's sleeting. / It's real adventure. It hasn't happened yet," immediately set a tone of anticipation and the suggestion of an unfolding story that is both literal and metaphorical. The mundane detail of waiting for a sandwich contrasts sharply with the surreal and dramatic elements that follow, such as the "perp becoming abusive" and the desire for escape, "wind in my pants, my long taffeta gown." This juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary is a recurring theme in the poem. The mention of the "president of Slavonia" and the order for flatbed trucks stretching "far into the offended distance" introduces a political or bureaucratic dimension, adding to the poem's sense of surreal complexity. The narrative then shifts to a reflection on the day's events, the significance of pills, and the missed opportunity to include a meeting. This could symbolize missed connections or the elusiveness of understanding in the midst of chaos. Ashbery's reference to "plazas of wailing tilting back into the bland exposure of it, the idle secret" suggests a world where profound emotion and banality coexist, where secrets are simultaneously significant and unremarkable. The scene of a lunch of sandwiches where "truth will perforate" captures the theme of revelation in the midst of the mundane. The closure of Venice and the entrance of another character through a "snow of ecstatic fleas" continue the theme of unexpected developments and surreal imagery. The poem's contemplation of memory and past experiences, as seen in the mention of "Photographs of members" and the nostalgia-tinged memory of a spring day, adds a layer of nostalgia and reflection. The character of Beverly, referenced in the title, appears to be caught in a whirlwind of events and expectations, from societal judgments to geopolitical intrigues, highlighting the complexity of identity and the pressures of external forces. The poem concludes with a meditation on the continuation of "latent oblivions" and the presence of "hotel ghosts," suggesting ongoing mysteries and unresolved issues. The final lines, contemplating the everyday concerns of life and the "violet pallor flooding us now / always," evoke a sense of pervasive melancholy and the inescapable nature of certain experiences or emotions. "Beverly of Graustark (1)" is a thought-provoking poem that captures the intricacies and paradoxes of human experience. Ashbery’s use of vivid imagery, abstract thought, and non-linear narrative creates a narrative that resonates with the unpredictability and richness of life. POEM TEXT:
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SECRET LOVE; SONG by JOHN CLARE NEEDLESS FEAR by EMILY DICKINSON SPEAKIN' O' CHRISTMAS by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR VERSES ON SEEING THE SPEAKER ASLEEP IN HIS CHAIR by WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED |
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