Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Finnish Rhapsody" by John Ashbery unfolds as a meditative journey through the mundane routines of life and the deeper existential inquiries that lie beneath them. This poem, characteristic of Ashbery's work, blends the everyday with the profound, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the search for meaning amidst the flux of existence. Through its exploration of the dichotomies of forgetting and remembering, action and inaction, and the individual's place within the broader tapestry of life, "Finnish Rhapsody" invites readers into a contemplative narrative that resonates with the complexities of the human condition. This analysis will delve into the poem's thematic concerns, its structure and form, and the stylistic elements that typify Ashbery's poetic voice, situating the poem within his broader oeuvre and the landscape of contemporary poetry.

The poem begins with the protagonist navigating the simple act of taking a shower, a mundane routine that serves as a gateway to the day's "long promise." This opening scene sets the stage for a reflection on the rhythms of daily life and the individual's negotiation with the passage of time. Ashbery's mention of the "daily forgetting" and the "diurnal plunge" introduces the theme of existential amnesia, the continuous cycle of engagement and disengagement that characterizes human experience.

The distinction between those for whom life's routines offer a semblance of security and those for whom these same routines signify a loss of sight or purpose underscores the poem's meditation on the variability of human perception and the subjective nature of reality. The imagery of millers and winnowers, "dusted with snow-white flour," and the "sad children, the disappointed kids" evokes a sense of alienation and the longing for connection and understanding.

Ashbery's contemplation of the act of forgetting as a form of remembering for a select few introduces a paradoxical exploration of memory and identity. This notion that oblivion can serve as a conduit to recollection suggests the intricate relationship between the past and the present, and the ways in which our histories inform our current selves.

The journey of those "traveling by car" and their obliviousness to "mystery" or "alarm" reflects the poem's engagement with the theme of complacency and the risk it poses to genuine engagement with life. The contrast between the comfort and tranquility of routine and the severe punishment of unexamined existence highlights the poem's exploration of the choices and consequences that define our lives.

Ashbery's advice, "Don’t fix it if it works," paired with the reflection on the closing of the day as "business," speaks to the human tendency to avoid risk and the potential for stagnation that accompanies this aversion. The questioning of "roadblocks" and "barricades" serves as a metaphor for the obstacles we encounter and the barriers we erect in our pursuit of understanding and fulfillment.

The poem's structure, characterized by free verse, allows Ashbery to navigate fluidly between concrete imagery and abstract reflection, supporting the poem's thematic exploration of the fluid boundaries between the mundane and the existential.

Stylistically, "Finnish Rhapsody" is marked by Ashbery's rich, evocative language and his capacity to infuse the everyday with a sense of the extraordinary. His work invites readers into a space of contemplation and interpretation, encouraging a personal and reflective engagement with its themes and questions.

In the broader context of Ashbery's work and postmodern literature, "Finnish Rhapsody" reflects the movement's engagement with questions of meaning, identity, and the instability of language and narrative. The poem, with its nuanced exploration of these themes and its open-endedness, exemplifies Ashbery's contribution to contemporary poetry's ongoing dialogue with the complexities of the human experience.

In conclusion, "Finnish Rhapsody" by John Ashbery stands as a meditation on the rhythms of daily life and the deeper questions that underpin our existence, weaving together the personal and the philosophical, the specific and the universal. Through its intricate imagery, thematic depth, and stylistic innovation, the poem invites readers into a reflective engagement with the uncertainties and possibilities of existence, marking it as a significant work within Ashbery's distinguished body of work and the broader landscape of contemporary poetry.

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