Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Gradual" by John Ashbery is a contemplative and enigmatic poem, rich with imagery and narrative fragments that evoke a sense of timelessness and the fluidity of human experience. Ashbery, known for his complex and often elusive style, constructs a tapestry of scenes and thoughts that resist a singular interpretation, instead inviting the reader to navigate through layers of meaning and symbolism.

The poem opens with a reference to a "book of hours," an allusion to medieval manuscripts used for private devotions. This sets the stage for a journey through time and consciousness, where each hour, like the pages of the book, is distinct yet interconnected with the others. The imagery of winter uniting "enemies of spring" and grass growing on frozen waterways suggests the cyclical nature of life and the interplay between opposing forces.

The characters in the poem, such as the Ploughman, the miller, and his wife, are reminiscent of figures from medieval literature and art, grounding the poem in a historical context while also giving it a timeless quality. The miller's wife looking out the window and observing the swaying trees becomes a metaphor for reflection and the search for meaning in the mundane.

The shift to a contemporary scene with a woman and a man illustrates the universality of human emotions and experiences. The man's feeling of being "foreshortened" and the woman's perception of him as too serious highlight the complexities of relationships and the challenges of communication and understanding.

The poem delves into the realm of dreams and imagination, with surreal images like "multicolored pylons" and "woolen buildings." These dreamscapes serve as metaphors for the inner worlds of the characters, revealing their desires, fears, and the escape from reality.

Ashbery's use of a kaleidoscope as a symbol for the myriad possibilities and interpretations of life and relationships is particularly striking. The poem becomes a reflection on the human condition, exploring themes of isolation, connection, and the search for meaning.

The references to historical and mythical elements, such as the "hair from the beard of the Prophet" and the "martyr’s feet," suggest a search for something transcendent or divine, a quest for something enduring amidst the transience of life.

"Gradual" is a poem that defies easy categorization or interpretation. Its beauty lies in its ambiguity, its rich imagery, and its exploration of the depth and complexity of human experience. Ashbery invites readers to engage with the poem on multiple levels, to find their own meanings in its intricate web of images and ideas.

POEM TEXT: https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/christopher-edgar-third-annual-poetry-contest-winner-christopher-edgar/

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