Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Unctuous Platitudes" by John Ashbery presents a tableau that is at once familiar and enigmatic, capturing the essence of urban existence with its inherent contradictions, fleeting connections, and the search for meaning amidst the mundane. Ashbery's poem, with its characteristic blend of sharp observation, abstract imagery, and a sense of detached irony, invites readers into a reflective contemplation of modern life and the human condition.

The opening line, "There is no reason for the surcharge to bother you," immediately introduces a tone of dismissiveness towards concerns that might typically aggravate an individual living in a city. This statement sets the stage for a narrative that oscillates between the trivial and the profound, suggesting that urban life is replete with annoyances that, on reflection, may not merit the emotional energy we often expend on them.

"Living in a city one is nonplussed by some / Of the inhabitants" further explores the theme of urban alienation and the sense of being overwhelmed or perplexed by the diversity and complexity of city dwellers. The weather, personified as having "grown gray with age," adds to the atmosphere of weariness and temporal decay, implying that the city and its climate bear the marks of time, affecting both the environment and its inhabitants.

The mention of poltergeists "Demanding a sweeping revision" introduces an element of the supernatural or the unseen forces at work in daily life, perhaps symbolizing the unexpected challenges and changes that disrupt our routines and demand adaptation.

The poem then delves into a more existential reflection with "People stay / Next to the edges of fields, hoping that out of nothing / Something will come." This imagery captures the human propensity to wait for meaning or revelation to emerge from the void, reflecting a universal longing for purpose and clarity. The arrival of "something" that remains undefined speaks to the often ambiguous nature of the answers or resolutions we seek.

"Embers / Of the rain tamp down the shitty darkness that issues / From nowhere" employs vivid, if somewhat jarring, imagery to convey a sense of extinguishing or suppressing the pervasive gloom that can arise spontaneously in life's darker moments. The presence of "A man in her room" introduces a narrative twist, hinting at personal relationships or encounters that intrude upon or complicate the solitary contemplation suggested elsewhere in the poem.

Ashbery's commentary on expression—"I like the really wonderful way you express things"—is layered with irony, as it prefaces a critique of "unctuous platitudes," the empty or overly smooth expressions that often characterize social interaction. The poem itself, with its complex imagery and nuanced critique of communication and existence, stands in contrast to the superficiality it ostensibly critiques.

The poem closes on a note of ambiguous hospitality: "Every invitation / To every stranger is met at the station." This line suggests a willingness to engage with the new and the unknown, despite the complexities and challenges of urban life and human interaction. It encapsulates the poem's exploration of the tension between isolation and connection, apathy and engagement, in the fabric of contemporary existence.

"Unctuous Platitudes" weaves together a rich tapestry of images and themes, offering a meditation on the paradoxes of modern life, the elusive search for meaning, and the ways in which we navigate the landscapes of communication and connection. Ashbery's skillful manipulation of language and form invites readers to reflect on the depths beneath the surface of everyday experiences, challenging us to look beyond the platitudes that often define our interactions.

POEM TEXT: https://ashberyhouse.yale.edu/unctuous-platitudes

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