Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Big Cloud" is a reflective and evocative poem that explores themes of dreams, the passage of time, and the elusive nature of memory and experience. Ashbery, known for his complex and often surreal poetry, creates a narrative that is both poignant and enigmatic, inviting deep contemplation and interpretation.

The opening lines, "For ages man has labored to put his dreams in order. Look at the result," immediately establish a theme of the human endeavor to make sense of dreams and aspirations. This endeavor is juxtaposed with the often-disappointing outcomes of such efforts, suggesting a disconnect between ambition and reality.

The poem’s contemplation of ideas like "the correct time" and their inevitable fading or spreading introduces a sense of impermanence and the fluidity of concepts and perceptions. The decay noted "under the old tree" serves as a metaphor for the natural process of change and deterioration over time.

Ashbery's mention of framing dreams to keep them on a wall, and the necessity of the "companionable / Trooping down to be with us" speaks to the human desire to preserve and cherish memories and experiences, even as they are inherently transient.

The imagery of the "obliging feathers once parted" and the grass sitting "like an empty flowerpot on a windowsill" evokes a sense of emptiness and the aftermath of something once vibrant. This reflects the poem's exploration of the aftermath of dreams and the residue they leave in reality.

The reference to "sheets of tulips and pointed leaves / To screen us from each other" and an announcement in a "lukewarm atmosphere" captures a moment of separation and the distancing effect of the environment on human connections.

The scattering of the unidentified "they" and the absence of specimens suggest a loss or dispersal of something once present or tangible. This could symbolize the fading of dreams, memories, or certain aspects of life.

The poem's reflection on "peace, living our lives, and so on" as a form of resignation or acceptance speaks to the experience of continuing life in the wake of change or loss. The reluctance to "point the finger of blame" at anyone underscores a recognition of the complexity and inevitability of these processes.

The description of meetings under "grotesquely overscaled arcades" and the ascension of first love to a "majestic position unimpaired" juxtaposes the grandiose with the intimate, highlighting the contrasts and contradictions in human experiences.

The strewn letters, singing of being unread, the swaying trees and wisteria, and the laughter in the fields evoke a sense of nostalgia and the fleeting nature of moments and feelings.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the return to "existence again in all its tautness," yet with the acknowledgment that "life was never the same again." This captures the transformative effect of experiences, memories, and the passage of time, leaving a sense of something lost or altered.

"Big Cloud" is a contemplative and layered poem that invites readers to ponder the complexities of dreams, memory, and the impermanence of human experience. Ashbery’s use of vivid imagery and abstract thought creates a narrative that resonates with the unpredictability and richness of life.

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