Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Some Trees" is a poem written by John Ashbery and published in his first book of poems, Some Trees, in 1956. Ashbery is considered one of the most influential American poets of the 20th century and won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1976. "Some Trees" is widely regarded as one of Ashbery's most important and successful poems and is often studied in literature courses.

Context:

"Some Trees" is a postmodernist poem that challenges traditional notions of form and meaning. The poem is characterized by its fragmented structure, non-linear narrative, and enigmatic imagery. The poem is part of a larger literary movement that sought to break free from the constraints of conventional literary forms and explore new possibilities for language and expression.

Content:

The poem begins with a description of a landscape: "These are amazing: each/Joining a neighbor, as though speech/Were a still performance." The opening lines suggest a sense of wonder and amazement at the natural world. However, the poem quickly shifts focus, and the speaker begins to contemplate his own place in the world: "Arranging by chance/To meet as far this morning/From the world as agreeing/With it." The lines suggest a feeling of dislocation or disconnection from the world, as if the speaker is searching for some kind of meaning or purpose.

As the poem progresses, the speaker continues to reflect on his surroundings, but the imagery becomes increasingly surreal and dreamlike: "We cannot cage the minute/Within its nets of gold,/Nor clock the winds or clouds." The lines suggest a sense of timelessness and fluidity, as if the natural world is constantly changing and evolving.

The poem ends with a return to the landscape, but the imagery is now tinged with melancholy: "Yet trees are not 'trees,' until/So named and seen and never loved/Without a name." The lines suggest that the beauty and wonder of the natural world can only be fully appreciated if we take the time to observe and appreciate it.

Poetic Details:

Structure:

"Some Trees" is composed of twenty-two lines divided into four stanzas. The poem has a free-verse structure, meaning that it does not follow a regular meter or rhyme scheme. The lack of a set structure contributes to the poem's sense of fragmentation and dislocation.

Rhyme:

The poem does not have a traditional rhyme scheme, but it does contain a few instances of internal rhyme and alliteration, such as "speech/Were a still performance" and "Agreeing/With it."

Summary:

"Some Trees" is a complex and challenging poem that rewards careful reading and analysis. The poem's fragmented structure and enigmatic imagery may initially be off-putting, but closer examination reveals a rich and thought-provoking meditation on the relationship between humans and the natural world. Ashbery's use of surreal imagery and fragmented structure serves to disrupt traditional notions of meaning and form, and the poem ultimately invites the reader to engage in their own interpretation and analysis. Overall, "Some Trees" is a masterful example of postmodernist poetry and remains an important and influential work in the canon of American literature.

Poem Snippet:

These are amazing: each

Joining a neighbor, as though speech

Were a still performance.

Arranging by chance

To meet as far this morning

From the world as agreeing

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