Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery's "Hard Times" contemplates on the impermanence and futility that seem inherent in human endeavors, set against an unforgiving, almost cosmic backdrop. The world, as the poem suggests, is "run on a shoestring," a metaphor that aptly captures the sense of fragility and unpredictability that underlie our existence. In the realm of "hell," where the poem posits our calls are directed, time is a resource so scarce that wasting minutes has a price. This vision evokes the existential concerns that have long preoccupied humanity: the ephemeral nature of time, the near-inefficiency of action, and the harshness of reality.

The first stanza introduces us to a future where today's endeavors will finally "filter down through all the proceedings," but by that point, it will be "too late." This 'too late' is never expounded upon, but its implications are broad and resonate with the often futile nature of human pursuits. Whether it's chasing dreams or ambitions, the world, according to Ashbery, is governed by a principle so firm and so self-preserving that nothing can change it: "That the power of this climate is only to conserve itself." This line may be interpreted both literally and metaphorically, commenting on natural ecosystems as well as socio-political systems that resist change.

The speaker notes that whatever "twists around" this immutable climate is merely "decoration," a poignant metaphor for human life and culture. The implication seems to be that our lives, with all their complexities and nuances, are in the grand scheme of things, inconsequential. They can't affect the overarching narrative or "climate," whether that be fate, nature, or the universe itself. However, the speaker's "aluminum teeth" suggests artificiality or even deceptive assurance that despite the futility, something, at least, "gets down, at last."

The latter part of the poem shifts to a personal anecdote, or perhaps a cultural memory- "the great trip to California"- which once elicited feelings of triumph. Yet, even that now requires daily effort to avoid being classified as ordinary or inconsequential. The passage of time and the advent of new experiences erode the luster of past achievements. "In time, it gets to stand with the wind," the poem closes, suggesting that despite the relentless force of the world's self-conserving "climate," one might find moments of respite or even companionship in natural forces like the wind. Yet, "by then the night is closed off," leaving us in a darkness that the poem implies is both literal and metaphorical.

"Hard Times" offers no easy answers or resolutions. It is neither wholly pessimistic nor optimistic. Instead, it paints a nuanced picture of the human condition-one of struggle, brief triumphs, and inevitable lapses into the ordinary. Ashbery's signature complexity ensures that every reading of the poem yields new interpretations, leaving the audience to grapple with its layered existential inquiries.

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