Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's poem "Whether It Exists" encapsulates a reflection on change, both in the landscape of the world and in the personal realm of experience and memory. Through his distinctive use of imagery and thematic exploration, Ashbery delves into the nature of existence, transformation, and the passage of time. The poem navigates through the decades, mapping shifts in perception and the essence of life itself, distilled to its core elements.

The initial lines, "All through the fifties and sixties the land tilted / Toward the bowl of life," evoke a sense of historical and cultural movement, suggesting a period of gravitation towards a collective experience or understanding of life. This metaphorical tilting implies a dynamic process of change, where society and its values undergo a significant shift towards or away from a central point of focus or belief system. The "bowl of life" symbolizes a receptacle of collective human experiences and aspirations, hinting at a convergence of societal aims during these decades.

The transition, "Now life / Has moved in that direction," signifies a fulfillment or realization of the tendencies and inclinations that characterized the earlier era. The tasting of conviction "Minus the rind, the pulp and the seeds" metaphorically suggests an encounter with the essence of these changes, stripped of their complexities and challenges. This distilled experience, "smoothly" ingested, reflects a nuanced understanding or acceptance of life’s transformations, free from the bitter or cumbersome elements that often accompany change.

The transformation of the field into a shed, "in ways I no longer remember," speaks to the fading of memory and the alteration of the physical and conceptual landscapes over time. This change, familiar yet devoid of tenderness, suggests a disconnection from the past, a sense of estrangement from the warmth of nostalgia. The sunset, pouring its "Dance music on the (again) slanting barrens," evokes a poignant image of beauty and melancholy, where the natural world reflects and amplifies the themes of change and loss. The slanting barrens, once again tilted, mirror the initial tilting of the land, suggesting a cyclical or recurring pattern of transformation.

The conclusion, where "the problems we were speaking of move up toward them," points to the unresolved issues and challenges that persist through time, ascending towards these metaphorical and literal landscapes of change. This movement implies a continuous dialogue with the past and present, where the problems of one era find their parallels or continuations in another.

"Whether It Exists" is a contemplative piece that weaves together the personal with the historical, the tangible with the metaphorical. Ashbery's poem invites readers to ponder the essence of change, the elusiveness of memory, and the continuous evolution of life and perception. Through its rich imagery and layered meanings, the poem offers a meditation on the ways in which existence—its essence, its problems, and its landscapes—shifts and tilts, challenging us to find our place within this ever-changing panorama.

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