Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In John Ashbery's "Qualm," we encounter a poem rich in historical and cultural allusions, yet deeply personal in its implications. It uses the life and presidency of Warren G. Harding as a lens to explore themes of human frailty, societal expectations, and the ephemeral nature of fame.

The poem opens with an almost trivial fact about Harding, crediting him with the invention of the words "normalcy" and "bloviate." It's a fascinating way to begin because it's neither a grand achievement nor a disgraceful act-common starting points when discussing presidents. This invocation of language-a tool of poets and politicians alike-serves to draw us into Harding's world, characterized by public attention and unrequested burdens.

"He never wanted to be president," Ashbery tells us, reminding the reader of the role that external pressures can play in shaping a life. This note also hints at an unwillingness or inability to confront one's destiny, a theme that is later mirrored in the rise and fall of "a new golf star" in the poem.

Harding is depicted as human and vulnerable: "He wasn't a bad egg. / Just weak. He loved women and Ohio." It's not an evaluation one usually encounters in historical accounts. In the words "just weak," there's an implicit empathy, as though the poet understands all too well the human condition of having weaknesses, of being susceptible to various forms of love and attachment.

The shift to the contemporary scene of a rising golf star serves as a counterpoint to Harding's historical narrative. The "intoxicating early part / Of summer" captures that transient moment when everything seems possible, a reflection perhaps of Harding's own rise before his subsequent fall. The crowd is "fickle as always," highlighting the unreliability of public opinion, and hinting at how quickly Harding's own popularity waned.

"The agony is permanent / Rather than eternal," the poem tells us, distinguishing between a torment that lasts throughout one's lifetime and one that extends into infinity. The use of the term "agony" reveals an underlying pain or suffering that exists whether one is a tragically flawed president or a suddenly popular sports figure.

The repeated phrase "Poor Warren" that bookends the latter half of the poem acts like an echo, a reflection on the disappointments and complexities of life. It serves as an epitaph not just for Harding but for anyone caught in the cycles of public expectation, personal weakness, and the ceaseless march of time.

In "Qualm," Ashbery masterfully uses the life of Warren G. Harding as a parable for understanding broader human experiences. Through vivid historical and cultural vignettes, he explores the vulnerabilities that haunt us all, irrespective of our station in life. The poem emerges not only as a study of one man's frailties but as a commentary on the human condition, a lament for the universal qualities that make us both tragically and beautifully flawed.

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