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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem begins with a seemingly straightforward recollection of a meeting at a carnival, a setting that conjures images of joy, noise, and the colorful chaos of life. The mention of enchiladas adds a layer of the everyday and the personal to the encounter, grounding the poem in the tangible experiences that define human connections. The speaker's desire to "fulfil your dream of me / in some suitable way" reveals a deeper yearning for understanding and acceptance, a wish to live up to or embody the other's expectations or hopes. The idea of giving away new gloves or boxing up all that’s wrong between them introduces a symbolic gesture of sacrifice and an attempt to contain or address the difficulties in their relationship. However, the "gutta-percha lamps" that do not whisper on their behalf suggest the limitations of communication and the inability of objects or external symbols to truly mediate or heal interpersonal rifts. Gutta-percha, a material used historically for various purposes including insulating telegraph cables, further emphasizes the theme of connection and the challenges therein. The poem then shifts to a more introspective and somber tone, with the speaker expressing loneliness and dread in the evenings. The imagery of a "rambunctious wind" filling the pine and an "enchanted" woodbine captures a sense of unrest and the magical, slightly ominous atmosphere of twilight. The urgency of leaving "before the clock strikes / whatever hour it is intent on" conveys a sense of impending change or departure, a need to escape or move forward before it is too late. This line also introduces an element of the unknown or the uncontrollable, emphasizing the inexorable march of time and its implications for human relationships. The plea "Do not leave me in this wilderness!" is a direct and heartfelt expression of fear and vulnerability, a call for companionship and support in the face of uncertainty and isolation. The conditional "Or, if you do, pay me to stay behind" adds a layer of negotiation or compromise, suggesting a willingness to endure hardship for the sake of connection, albeit with a recognition of the costs involved. In summary, "Proximity" by John Ashbery is a rich and layered poem that delves into the heart of human relationships, exploring the desire for connection, the fear of abandonment, and the complex interplay between individual needs and the dynamics of companionship. Through vivid imagery and a narrative that blends the concrete with the abstract, Ashbery invites readers to reflect on the beauty and the challenges of seeking proximity in a world marked by distance and change.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MUSIC AND MEMORY by JOHN ALBEE THANKSGIVING DAY by LYDIA MARIA CHILD TO MUSIC [TO BECALM HIS FEVER] by ROBERT HERRICK TO LUCASTA, [ON] GOING BEYOND THE SEAS by RICHARD LOVELACE TO WALTER LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD ON HIS BAR-MITZVAH by LOUIS BARNETT ABRAHAMS THE FLIGHT OF THE GODDESS by CELIA THAXTER IN THE HOSPITAL by PATRICK JOHN MCALISTER ANDERSON TO BARON DE STONNE WITH AIKIN'S ESSAYS ON SONG-WRITING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |
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