Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Vendanges" by John Ashbery is a quintessential example of his enigmatic and lyrical style, presenting a dreamscape where memory, observation, and imagination blur together. The title, which means "grape harvest" in French, suggests a time of gathering and abundance, yet the poem's narrative moves through a series of disjointed, surreal vignettes, hinting at loss, change, and the passage of time.

The poem begins with a disorienting image: "A tall building in the fifteenth arrondissement faded away slowly and then completely vanished." This evocation of disappearance sets the tone for the poem, suggesting the ephemeral nature of both physical structures and human experiences. The shift in weather "toward November" adds to the atmosphere of transience and impending change.

Ashbery's narrative voice is both personal and detached, moving from observations about the environment to intimate yet oblique remarks like "I forgot to tell you your hat looked perky." This blend of the mundane and the mysterious is characteristic of Ashbery's poetry, which often challenges conventional notions of coherence and narrative.

The "new way of falling asleep" discovered by senior citizens introduces a theme of altered consciousness or perception. The subsequent mention of children singing and the concerns about shared spaces like the yard further weave together themes of community, individuality, and the complexities of social interaction.

The speaker's admission of feeling "pale and restless" and the impending loss or destruction of their "life’s work, or invention" introduces a sense of personal vulnerability and existential anxiety. This is juxtaposed with the advice to remain "open and vulnerable," emphasizing a philosophy of acceptance and exposure to life's uncertainties.

The poem's conclusion, with its reminiscence of cherry blossoms and a questioning of one's place and purpose in the world, evokes a sense of wonder mixed with existential doubt. The speaker's reflection on what they "deserve" speaks to a universal human concern about the fairness and meaning of life's experiences.

Throughout "Vendanges," Ashbery masterfully weaves together disparate images and ideas to create a tapestry of human experience that is both bewildering and deeply resonant. The poem invites multiple interpretations, reflecting the complexity of human consciousness and the inherent ambiguity of our interactions with the world and with each other.

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