The phrase “outside thing” in the opening line may allude to the external world beyond the poem itself, the very world that inspires the poem. The term “a dreamed rolepattern” implies a blend of structure and spontaneity, which the poet equates with the essence of “play.” The second and third lines present a mystery, as Ashbery offers no indication of how “a dreamed rolepattern” and “the division of grace these long August days / Without proof” are linked. One interpretation is that Ashbery completed the poem in August. In the endnotes for Shadow Train, John Shoptaw notes that “Paradoxes and Oxymorons” was composed on July 29, which lends some credence to this idea. Many consider August to be the slowest month, when summer reaches its peak, explaining why the month is described as “long.” Ashbery emphasizes the poem’s playful nature by isolating “Openended” as its own sentence and placing it in the middle of a line. “The steam and chatter of typewriters” provides the poem's most tangible image, grounding the reader in the realm of physical objects rather than abstract concepts.