Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"IMPURE" by John Ashbery is a reflective and multifaceted poem that navigates through a landscape of memory, perception, and the transient nature of human relationships. The poem is characterized by its stream-of-consciousness style, a hallmark of Ashbery's work, weaving together disparate images and thoughts to create a tapestry that is both intriguing and elusive.

The opening lines of the poem set a tone of contemplative engagement, with the speaker recounting the experience of reading a story that is enjoyable yet seemingly endless. This introduction serves as a metaphor for the complexities of understanding life and its narratives, which are often extensive and multifaceted.

Ashbery employs vivid and somewhat surreal imagery, such as "White ambulances chase each other through the snow" and "fish swim by, too haughty to have an opinion on anything." These images contribute to the dreamlike and whimsical quality of the poem, suggesting a world where the ordinary and the extraordinary coexist and interact in unexpected ways.

The reference to "timed-release capsules" metaphorically speaks to the gradual unfolding of understanding or realization, a process that is often unpredictable and beyond immediate comprehension. This idea is further reinforced by the setting of a "grey October day" that is beyond anyone's imagination, except perhaps for the elderly couple, "Mama and Papa," who represent wisdom and experience.

As the poem progresses, the speaker's attention shifts to the search for "impurities in your rock-crystal speech," indicating a desire to find depth and complexity beneath a surface of apparent clarity and purity. The mention of "mute dragonflies" adds to the sense of fleeting beauty and the elusiveness of capturing the essence of something or someone.

The latter part of the poem introduces a character, Ben, who symbolizes the changing nature of human relationships and perceptions. Ben's journey to a "far land" and the uncertainty of his return with "garlands flowing from its fenders" reflect the unpredictable paths that life can take. The fluctuating attitudes towards Ben – from affection to irritation and back to liking – mirror the fickle nature of human emotions and the complexities inherent in personal connections.

In "IMPURE," Ashbery masterfully blends a series of seemingly unrelated images and thoughts to explore themes of perception, memory, and the impermanence of human relationships. The poem invites the reader to embrace the ambiguities and contradictions of life, acknowledging that understanding and emotion are often fluid and subject to change. Through its evocative imagery and contemplative tone, the poem encourages a deeper reflection on the intricacies of human experience and the elusive nature of reality.

POEM TEXT: https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v21/n23/john-ashbery/two-poems

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