Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Gazing Grain" by John Ashbery unfolds as a reflective journey through an American landscape, imbued with a sense of historical and cultural awareness. The poem begins with a vivid and tactile image, "The tires slowly came to a rubbery stop." This immediate halt sets the tone for a contemplative pause, inviting the reader into a space of observation and thought.

The phrase “Alliterative festoons in the sky” suggests a celebration or a ceremonial acknowledgment in the atmosphere, perhaps of the natural and the mundane. The reference to “this branchy birthplace of presidents” ties the poem to a specific American context, hinting at a landscape rich in political history and national identity.

The juxtaposition of “the big frigidaire-cum-cowbarn” with the “mendicant and the margrave” illustrates a contrast between modern convenience and historical archetypes, blending the contemporary with the traditional. This contrast may reflect on the diversity of American society and the varying experiences of its people.

Ashbery’s invocation of “any openness of song” as “the plainer way” could be an acknowledgment of the straightforward, unadorned truth found in music or poetry, an art form that cuts through complexity to reveal a more fundamental reality.

The plea, “O take me to the banks of your Mississippi over there,” echoes with longing and nostalgia, evoking the iconic and mythic place of the Mississippi River in American consciousness. It is a call to return to roots, to the foundational elements of personal or national identity.

Describing oneself as “A stranger myself in the dramatic lighting, The result of war” introduces a sense of alienation and displacement, perhaps as a consequence of conflict or change. This line resonates with a feeling of being an outsider in one’s own environment, altered by the aftermath of collective or personal battles.

The poem speaks to the transitory nature of life and perception with “That which is given to see At any moment is the residue, shadowed In gold or emerging into the clear bluish haze Of uncertainty.” This passage reflects on the ephemeral and often uncertain nature of reality and experience, acknowledging that what we perceive is often just a fragment or a shadow of the whole.

The closing lines, “We come back to ourselves Through the rubbish of cloud and tree-spattered pavement. These days stand like vapor under the trees,” suggest a return to self-awareness and identity through the chaotic and cluttered landscape of life. The imagery of vapor under the trees evokes a sense of ephemeral beauty and transience, perhaps signifying the fleeting nature of time and experience.

In "Gazing Grain," Ashbery crafts a narrative that navigates through layers of American history, personal identity, and the ephemeral nature of experience. The poem’s rich imagery and contemplative tone invite the reader to reflect on their own place within the broader tapestry of time and culture.

POEM TEXT: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1977/03/31/two-poems-by-john-ashbery/

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