Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Brute Image" is a thought-provoking poem that explores themes of daily routine, the search for meaning, and the complexities of human existence. Known for his abstract and often enigmatic style, Ashbery weaves a narrative that invites reflection on the nature of life, perception, and communication.

The poem opens with the observation of people leaving their offices, suggesting the mundane and repetitive aspects of daily life. The transition from work to home, where they spend the evening with "small patterns and odd, / Oblique fixtures," evokes a sense of the ordinary, yet subtly peculiar, aspects of domestic life.

The question of "Authentic what?" and the subsequent inquiry about deliverance from the monotony of existence introduce a deeper philosophical layer to the poem. The idea that stepping out into the hall and the relief brought by "Spells" and "antique shrieking into the night" suggests a desire for escape or transcendence from the everyday.

The notion that this is only a "stand-in for the more formal, / More serious side of it" implies that there is a deeper, perhaps more profound aspect of life that remains unexplored or unexpressed.

The protest "How did we get here / This way, unable to stop communicating?" speaks to the human condition of constant interaction and the inability to disengage, even when communication becomes overwhelming or meaningless.

The imagery of children listening "For the weeds slanting inward, for the cold mice / Until dawn" portrays a scene of innocence and curiosity, juxtaposed with the more somber and introspective tone of the adults.

Ashbery's mention of every yard having its tree and every heart its valentine, yet the collective "we" not knowing how to "occupy the tent of night," captures the universal search for love and understanding, contrasted with a sense of uncertainty and unpreparedness for life's inevitabilities.

The concluding line, "So that what must come to pass shall pass," underscores the poem's meditation on acceptance and the inevitability of certain experiences and events in life.

"Brute Image" is a contemplative and layered poem that invites readers to ponder the intricacies of daily life, the search for meaning, and the human experience of communication and connection. Ashbery’s use of vivid imagery and abstract thought creates a narrative that resonates with the depth and complexity of the human condition.

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