Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"More Hocketing" by John Ashbery is a poem that embodies the poet's signature style of disjointed narrative, surreal imagery, and a tapestry of seemingly unconnected thoughts and scenes. The title itself, "More Hocketing," suggests a disjointed or interrupted musical technique, fitting for a poem whose structure and flow seem to mimic a haphazard, yet strangely harmonious, melody.

The poem opens with a sense of anticipation and uncertainty: "The fear was that they would not come." This line sets a tone of expectancy, yet it's unclear who "they" are, leaving the reader in a state of suspense. This is followed by an abrupt shift to a description of a roughening sea, a classic symbol of turmoil and unpredictability.

Ashbery’s poetry often challenges traditional notions of coherence and narrative. In "More Hocketing," he weaves a series of vignettes and images that, at first glance, appear unrelated. The mention of a "different language singing from the wall" evokes a sense of mysterious communication or messages that are just beyond understanding.

The poem moves through various scenes and images with a dreamlike fluidity. References to everyday objects and actions, like "underwear on a dinner plate," collide with more abstract notions, such as the loss of figs and pretzels, symbolizing perhaps the end of abundance or the simplicity of life.

Ashbery's use of paradoxical statements, such as "The fear was that they would come," after initially stating the opposite fear, plays with the reader's expectations and underscores the complexity and contradictions of human emotions and experiences.

The poem progresses through disjointed narratives and surreal images, including panthers prowling the streets and a streetcar turning into a bus. These transformations contribute to the sense of a world in constant flux, a theme often explored in Ashbery’s work.

The mention of a "sonnet that turned out a letter" and Rose crossing the road with her nose suggests the poet's awareness of the fluid boundaries between poetic forms and everyday life, as well as the unexpected turns that life can take.

The poem concludes with reflections on isolation and connection. The image of a shadow-person leading the speaker to a small house and the subsequent escape with a clock may symbolize the passage of time and the fleeting nature of human connections. The final lines, referencing the mating habits of Canada geese, serve as a poignant metaphor for relationships and the inevitability of change and loss.

In summary, "More Hocketing" is a quintessential Ashbery poem, rich with his unique blend of surreal imagery, playful language, and an underlying exploration of time, memory, and human experience. The poem invites multiple interpretations, leaving the reader to navigate its shifting landscapes and draw their own conclusions.

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