The opening lines, "I can’t believe there’s not / another world where we will sit / and read new poems to each other / high on a mountain in the wind," immediately introduce the theme of an enduring, idealized companionship that transcends earthly constraints. The imagery of sitting high on a mountain, exposed to the elements, suggests a desire for a place of purity and elevation, both literally and metaphorically, where their poetic exchange can flourish unfettered. O'Hara's invocation of Tu Fu and Po Chu-i, two revered poets of the Tang Dynasty known for their lyrical and contemplative poetry, serves multiple purposes. It not only aligns Ashbery and himself with these literary giants, thereby situating their work within a grand tradition of poetic discourse, but also emphasizes the timeless and universal nature of poetry as a means of connection and reflection. The mention of the "Monkey Lady" in the moon, smiling at their "ill-fitting heads," injects a note of humor and humility, acknowledging the poets' human foibles even as they aspire to lofty ideals. The contemplation deepens with the lines "Or shall we be really gone? this / is not the grass I saw in my youth!" Here, O'Hara touches on themes of impermanence, memory, and the inevitable passage of time. The changing landscape serves as a metaphor for the transformations that occur within the self and in the external world, highlighting the transient nature of life and the constancy of change. The poem concludes with a reflection on the moon, traditionally a symbol of change, impermanence, and the cyclical nature of existence. The empty moon, interpreted as a "bad sign," ominously suggests the finality of death with the phrase "meaning ‘You go, like the blossoms.’" This line, evocative of the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms—a common motif in Chinese and Japanese poetry—underscores the poem's meditation on mortality, loss, and the ephemeral beauty of life and art. "To John Ashbery" is both a celebration of the enduring spirit of poetry and a contemplative acknowledgment of the poets' mortality. Through its lyrical beauty and intimate tone, O'Hara's poem pays homage to his friendship with Ashbery, capturing the depth of their connection through shared artistic endeavor. The poem itself becomes a space where the poets, and by extension all who engage deeply with poetry, transcend the temporal, reaching towards the eternal through the power of their words. |