Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"What is Written" by John Ashbery delves into the themes of memory, perception, and the passage of time. The poem opens with a question about the content of a paper on a table by a bed, immediately introducing an atmosphere of uncertainty and introspection. This query about the paper's content symbolizes the elusive nature of memory and the fleeting impressions left by our experiences. The question "Is there something there / or was that from another last night?" suggests the blurring of past and present, indicating how memories can merge and become indistinct over time.

The bird that appears in the poem serves as a metaphor for the unpredictable and capricious nature of thought and memory. Its action of "pausing in mid-flight, to take another direction" mirrors the way thoughts can suddenly change course, leading us down unexpected paths. The bird's feelings of guilt about dropping a spool into a stream reflect the human tendency to ruminate on past actions and their consequences.

The journey of the spool, from potentially being locked away in a drawer to being set free and moving towards the ocean, symbolizes the transition from confinement to liberation. This could represent the freeing of thoughts or memories that were once suppressed or hidden, now allowed to move freely and evolve. The phrase "you are free / to call the shots pretty much as they come" suggests an acceptance of the unpredictability of life and the autonomy to navigate it.

The final line, "Poor, bald thing," is a poignant comment on the spool, evoking sympathy for its plight. It humanizes the inanimate object, making it a stand-in for our vulnerabilities and the wear and tear of life experiences.

Overall, "What is Written" captures the fluid and often elusive nature of memory and perception. Ashbery's use of imagery and metaphor invites the reader to reflect on the ways in which our past experiences, thoughts, and decisions—represented by the paper, the bird, and the spool—shape and are shaped by the passage of time. The poem suggests a contemplation of life's impermanence and the constant flux of our inner world.

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