Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Token Resistance" embodies the quintessential Ashberian style—elliptical, evocative, and reflective—melding dreamlike imagery with contemplations on time, existence, and the passage of life. The poem opens with a surreal encounter that sets the tone for a meditation on the accumulation of experiences and the inevitable march of time.

The image of one turning to another "in a dream" and being presented with a book is emblematic of the transmission of knowledge and the weight of history. The phrase "smiling like a bell that has just / stopped tolling" suggests a moment of transition, a pause between the resonating echoes of the past and the silence that follows, symbolizing perhaps the end of an era or a phase in life. The speaker's directive to "Wear it," referring to the "vulgarity of time, from the Stone Age / to our present," encapsulates the human condition bound by the continuum of history, burdened and adorned by the vestiges of all that has transpired.

The journey from "checkered heights" speaks to descending from a position of clarity or advantage into the complexities and the mundane realities of life. The "checkered" pattern could symbolize the alternating nature of life's fortunes and misfortunes, the varied experiences that comprise human existence. This descent is undertaken amidst a "common light" and a "common fiction," suggesting a shared human experience that unifies disparate lives through common narratives and collective consciousness.

Ashbery's reference to a "celebration" that was never initially intended, and the boldness inspired by the rain, reflects the unpredictability of life and the spontaneous decisions that lead to unforeseen paths and outcomes. The rain, often a symbol of renewal and change, emboldens the speaker to step out into the world, marking the beginning of a journey that is reflective yet irreversible.

The acknowledgment that "It / isn't possible to be young anymore" is a poignant acceptance of aging, a recognition of the linear progression of time that spares no one. This realization is contrasted with the enduring presence of the tree, which treats the speaker with a familiarity that transcends temporal changes, suggesting a connection to nature that remains constant even as human life evolves and ages.

The concluding lines, "my own shoes have scarred the walk I've taken," signify the lasting impact of one's journey through life. The scars left behind are testament to the experiences lived, the choices made, and the paths traversed. They are a physical manifestation of the poem's earlier contemplations on the weight of history and the personal narrative each individual carries forward.

"Token Resistance" is a reflective exploration of the passage of time, the accumulation of experiences, and the inevitable changes that come with aging. Through his distinctive use of dreamlike imagery and contemplation, Ashbery invites readers to consider their own place within the continuum of history and the shared human experience, highlighting the beauty and complexity of life's journey.

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