Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Fuckin' Sarcophagi" by John Ashbery is a rich tapestry of imaginative and surreal imagery, weaving together a narrative that defies traditional interpretation. The poem opens with a bizarre scene where a dogfish, an odd yet specific creature, requests a lottery ticket while an unnamed object is mounted on a flatbed. This introduction immediately sets a tone of absurdity and unpredictability, characteristic of Ashbery's style.

The reference to “Generations of toppled heads” returning “home to roost in my priory” could symbolize the return or haunting of past thoughts, decisions, or historical legacies within the speaker’s mind or space. This imagery is evocative of a contemplative, perhaps overwhelmed, state where the past intermingles with the present in a chaotic manner.

The smell of doughnuts frying provides a stark, sensory contrast to the preceding line about toppled heads, grounding the abstract in the mundane. This juxtaposition is a hallmark of Ashbery's poetry, which often blurs the lines between the profound and the prosaic.

The speaker reflects on their own experiences, likening themselves to a tree. This metaphor suggests a life lived in partial obstruction and competition (“branches obstructing others”), leading to a certain wisdom (“have learned me”). This passage speaks to the complexities of life experiences and how they shape one’s understanding of the world.

The notion of a “deaf animal” forgetting another in the “rush to light” further emphasizes themes of neglect and the overwhelming nature of existence. The “threshold” could represent a point of transition or realization, where previous identities or purposes are forgotten.

The mention of a hygrometer, a device measuring humidity, being swallowed by a tusked creature adds to the poem's surreal quality. This could symbolize the loss of a means to measure or make sense of one's environment, contributing to a sense of disorientation or detachment from reality.

The image of suds on the porch, juxtaposed with a baby blowing soap bubbles, presents a domestic scene that contrasts with the earlier more abstract and surreal images. This could reflect on the innocence and simplicity of childhood, contrasting with the complexity and absurdity of the adult world.

The speaker’s contemplation of whether it’s “ever over” between themselves and an unnamed entity, coupled with the appearance of a “shy spiral” and the cue for inactivity, suggests a relationship or connection that is cyclic, enigmatic, and possibly unresolved.

The poem concludes with a whimsical yet resigned acceptance of the nonsensical (“Betimes the betises fall where they may”). This line encapsulates the poem's essence—a recognition of the random, often absurd nature of life and the experiences within it.

In summary, "Fuckin' Sarcophagi" is a quintessentially Ashberyan poem, rich in obscure references and vivid, dream-like imagery. It encapsulates a sense of life's unpredictability and absurdity, while also touching on themes of memory, experience, and the contrast between the complexities of adulthood and the simplicity of childhood.

POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryproject.org/media/pages/file-library/2327154399-1666147640/159-newsletter.pdf

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