Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Invasive Procedures" by John Ashbery is a surreal and disjointed meditation on the nature of identity, perception, and the struggle for understanding in a world that often seems absurd and unpredictable. The poem opens with an epigraph from Swiss writer Robert Walser, setting the tone for a narrative that grapples with the idea of being understood or invaded by others' perceptions and knowledge.

The poem's structure is characterized by abrupt shifts in setting and narrative, creating a dream-like, almost hallucinatory quality. Ashbery begins with a whimsical and nonsensical image of Massachusetts resting its feet in Rhode Island, immediately plunging the reader into a world where the ordinary rules of logic and geography do not apply. This sets the stage for the exploration of themes such as displacement, confusion, and the blurring of boundaries between self and other.

The speaker's voice is elusive and shifting, reflecting the poem's thematic concern with identity and the difficulty of self-definition. The reference to being called upon to write a different poem suggests the poet's awareness of external expectations and the challenge of authenticity in artistic creation.

The narrative moves through a series of bizarre and disjointed scenes, including the exchange of a melon on Beethoven Street, an encounter with the police, and the speaker's release after confounding his interrogators with unanswerable questions. This section of the poem can be read as a metaphor for the struggle to maintain individuality and autonomy in the face of societal pressures and the desire to conform.

The hymn that the speaker chants to himself reflects on the dangers of becoming a monster, a warning against losing one's humanity in a world that can be both cruel and kind. This idea is further developed through the surreal imagery of pigs coming through window screens and the speaker's feeling of being trapped in a cycle of longing and loss.

The poem concludes with the speaker on a ledge, contemplating the purity of the air and contrasting it with the "frayed December night." This final image can be interpreted as a moment of clarity or revelation, a break from the confusion and madness of the world around him.

Overall, "Invasive Procedures" is a complex and richly layered poem that defies easy interpretation. Its fragmented narrative and surreal imagery reflect Ashbery's interest in the fluidity of identity and the challenge of finding meaning in a chaotic and often incomprehensible world. The poem invites multiple readings and leaves the reader with a sense of the elusiveness of truth and the perpetual search for understanding.

POEM TEXT: https://ashberyhouse.yale.edu/invasive-procedures

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