Paradoxes and Oxymorons | Stanza 4 Summary
The poet, the poem, and the reader are all in play in this final stanza. The “it” in the first line is, presumably, the poem. Ashbery appears to liken it to a piece of music, which can also be “played.” The “I” makes its second and final appearance in the first line of this stanza, thinking of “you,” presumably the reader. It is important to note that “you” can also mean the speaker himself. The use of the second person to address another part of the speaker has a rich history in poetry, and Ashbery plays with this convention. The poet writes with the idea of the...
[The entire page is 181 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
Tell a friend about Paradoxes and Oxymorons at eNotes.
