Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's poem "Pied Piper" is a poignant and introspective exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time. Employing his characteristic blend of vivid imagery and layered meanings, Ashbery creates a narrative that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the inevitable march of time.

The poem opens with an evocative scene: a touch at nightfall and a promise that seems to be bound by misery. The starching of the host’s bed and the falling of his hand like an axe on her curls creates a vivid image of intimacy mixed with a sense of foreboding or heaviness. The invitation, "Come in, come in! Better that the winter / Blaze unseen, than we two sleep apart!" speaks to a desire for companionship and connection, despite the underlying difficulties or sadness.

The reference to those who in old age often part from sleep at the sound of distant revels introduces a theme of separation and longing. The image of children coupling as the earth crumbles suggests a world in decline, where the natural order and relationships are disintegrating.

Ashbery's use of the phrase "In vanity forever going down / A sunlit road" captures the transient nature of youth and beauty, as well as the pursuit of desires that ultimately lead nowhere. This is juxtaposed with the idea that the love of the one "who never loved them at all" was the strongest, a paradoxical statement that hints at the complexities and ironies of affection and neglect.

The characterization of his tune as "stiff" and "Most civil, laughing not to return" evokes the image of the Pied Piper, who led the children away with his music, never to return. This allusion to the Pied Piper myth adds layers of meaning to the poem, suggesting themes of betrayal, the seductive power of charisma or allure, and the loss of innocence.

In summary, "Pied Piper" by John Ashbery is a thought-provoking poem that interweaves themes of love, aging, and the inexorable passage of time with rich imagery and allusions. The poem invites reflection on the nature of human connections, the fleetingness of life, and the often unexpected and paradoxical ways in which love and affection manifest themselves. Through this work, Ashbery captures the essence of the human experience, marked by complexity, beauty, and an underlying sense of melancholy.

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