How To Continue

One of the greatest American poets, John Ashbery, has died at the age of 90. Now seems as good a time as any to re-familiarize ourselves with his beautiful work. You can listen to him reading the poem here.

Oh there once was a woman 

and she kept a shop 

selling trinkets to tourists 

not far from a dock 

who came to see what life could be 

far back on the island. 

And it was always a party there 

always different but very nice 

New friends to give you advice 

or fall in love with you which is nice 

and each grew so perfectly from the other 

it was a marvel of poetry 

and irony 

And in this unsafe quarter 

much was scary and dirty 

but no one seemed to mind 

very much 

the parties went on from house to house 

There were friends and lovers galore 

all around the store 

There was moonshine in winter 

and starshine in summer 

and everybody was happy to have discovered 

what they discovered 

And then one day the ship sailed away 

There were no more dreamers just sleepers 

in heavy attitudes on the dock 

moving as if they knew how 

among the trinkets and the souvenirs 

the random shops of modern furniture 

and a gale came and said 

it is time to take all of you away 

from the tops of the trees to the little houses 

on little paths so startled 

And when it became time to go 

they none of them would leave without the other 

for they said we are all one here 

and if one of us goes the other will not go 

and the wind whispered it to the stars 

the people all got up to go 

and looked back on love

-- John Ashbery