Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"REDEEMED AREA" by John Ashbery presents a narrative that oscillates between the mundane and the surreal, a characteristic feature of Ashbery's poetry. The poem starts with a question that grounds us in a familiar setting: "Do you know where you live? Probably." This direct address to the reader sets the tone for a conversational, almost anecdotal style.

The poem then shifts to a character named Abner, who is too old to drive. This portrayal of aging and its accompanying limitations is a poignant reflection on the human condition. The description of his journey for cough drops, a mundane errand, is tinged with a sense of nostalgia and loss - the cough drops are of a kind that is no longer made, and the familiar drugstore has been subsumed into a mall. This change in landscape serves as a metaphor for the inevitable transformations that occur over time in our lives and surroundings.

Ashbery's description of the area – with houses rented out to college students and thus "virtually uninhabitable" – paints a picture of neglect and decay. The vivid imagery of "a smell of vitriol and socks" further adds to the sense of deterioration. This could be interpreted as a commentary on societal changes and the loss of community values.

The poem's tone shifts whimsically with the mention of the new cough drops tasting like "catnip or an orange slice that has lain on a girl’s behind." This absurd and unexpected comparison is typical of Ashbery, who often blends the ordinary with the bizarre to create a dream-like, surreal quality in his poems.

As the poem progresses, mundane activities like plugging in Christmas tree lights or making toast are juxtaposed with the surreal image of dancing "like demented dogs." This blend of the everyday with the fantastical is a hallmark of Ashbery's style, creating a landscape where the ordinary is transformed into something extraordinary and strange.

In the concluding lines, Ashbery creates a sense of chaos and disarray: "the tarnish has fallen from the metallic embroidery, the walls have fallen, the country’s pulse is racing." Yet, despite this, the speaker is in a good mood, perhaps suggesting a resilience or acceptance of the absurdities and unpredictabilities of life.

"REDEEMED AREA" is quintessential Ashbery, blending the mundane with the surreal, the conversational with the poetic, and the humorous with the profound. The poem invites multiple interpretations, each reading uncovering new layers of meaning, much like peeling an onion.

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