Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Girls on the Run: 21" by John Ashbery unfolds like a surreal and whimsical narrative, filled with shifting scenes and a cast of diverse characters. The poem opens with a sense of anticipation and mystery, as people come to the speaker, who seems to understand and know how to handle them. The mention of whiskers and salvage operations introduces a playful tone, suggesting a quirky, almost nonsensical world.

The narrative then shifts to characters named Hopeful and Talkative, with Hopeful silently supporting Talkative's storytelling. This interaction hints at deeper themes of communication and understanding, where words and stories have significant impact.

As the poem progresses, Ashbery weaves in various scenarios, including a routine assassination, a snowstorm, and a reference to pterodactyls, creating a tapestry of absurd yet vivid images. The poem's landscape is both mundane and fantastical, where everyday objects and events are juxtaposed with extraordinary occurrences.

The narrative further unfolds with a sense of movement and change, as characters like Paul, Stuart Hofnagel, and Young Topless appear, each contributing to the poem's rich and eclectic world. The imagery of landscapes, animals, and objects continues to create a dreamlike atmosphere, where reality and fantasy blur.

Throughout the poem, Ashbery's language is playful and imaginative, with a stream-of-consciousness style that allows for sudden shifts in perspective and setting. The poem's title, "Girls on the Run," suggests a sense of escape and adventure, yet the narrative remains elusive and open-ended.

In summary, "Girls on the Run: 21" is characteristic of Ashbery's style, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary, the humorous with the profound. The poem invites multiple interpretations and encourages readers to embrace the ambiguity and complexity of its world.

POEM TEXT: https://germspot.blogspot.com/2005/05/john-ashbery-p3.html

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