Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

John Ashbery’s "Baked Alaska" is a complex and multifaceted poem that explores themes of imperfection, expectation, and the unpredictable nature of life. Ashbery, known for his intricate and often surreal poetry, crafts a narrative that is both evocative and elusive, inviting deep contemplation and interpretation.

The opening lines, "It will do. It's not perfect, but it will do until something better comes along," immediately establish a tone of compromise and dissatisfaction. The acceptance of something less than ideal, with the hope of future improvement, sets the stage for a meditation on the nature of human desires and expectations.

The poem’s reflection on the impermanence and inadequacy of solutions, as well as the anticipation of something better, speaks to the human experience of constantly seeking improvement and grappling with the reality of the present.

The mention of the "fat boy, in lemon overalls, / twenty storeys high, with feet two blocks in diameter" introduces a surreal, larger-than-life figure that represents an insurmountable obstacle or challenge, posing the question of how to escape or overcome such a daunting presence.

The imagery of spring emptying "like an Egyptian sewer into the street" and the framing of losses before a bad time that went away evokes a sense of decay, renewal, and the cyclical nature of good and bad times.

The poem’s contemplation of suing nature for the tide’s infirmities and the description of sliding off into a lather and mouthing "the old pulchritude a house has" reflects a longing to hold something accountable for life's injustices and a yearning for the beauty and stability that a home represents.

"Baked Alaska" is a thought-provoking poem that captures the complexities of living with imperfection, the pursuit of something better, and the unpredictability of life's journey. Ashbery’s use of vivid imagery and abstract thought creates a narrative that resonates with the unpredictability and richness of the human experience.

POEM TEXT:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Best_of_the_Best_American_Poetry/Vsd9jwYZ5HEC?q=ashbery+BAKED+ALASKA&gbpv=1#f=false