--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But always and sometimes questioning the…" description: "\"But always and sometimes questioning the old modes And the new wondering, the poem, growing up through the floor, Standing tall in tubers, invading and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/john-ashbery-3600_demand_but-always-and-sometimes-questioning-the_3006673.jpg" --- # But always and sometimes questioning the old modes And the… ![“But always and sometimes questioning the old modes And the new wondering, the poem, growing up through the floor, Standing tall in tubers, invading and smashing the ritual Parlor, demands to be met on its own terms now, Now that the preliminary negotiations are at last over.” quote by John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/john-ashbery-3600_demand_but-always-and-sometimes-questioning-the_3006673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/john-ashbery-3600_demand_but-always-and-sometimes-questioning-the_3006673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/880/john-ashbery-3600_demand_but-always-and-sometimes-questioning-the_3006673.jpg) > “But always and sometimes questioning the old modes And the new wondering, the poem, growing up through the floor, Standing tall in tubers, invading and smashing the ritual Parlor, demands to be met on its own terms now, Now that the preliminary negotiations are at last over.” [John Ashbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashbery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem juxtaposes old and new artistic forms, urging acceptance of evolving creative rituals after negotiations end. **In simple terms:** Old meets new art, accept change after talks. Key Takeaway Embrace new creative terms. Themes art creativity change negotiation rituals Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - gallery openings - literary workshops - creative collaborations Key Concepts postmodernism artistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - How do you negotiate tradition and innovation? - What rituals must be redefined? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints of new forms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Demands Met](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demands-met-2674569/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Invading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invading/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Parlor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parlor/) [Parlor Demands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parlor-demands-4799227/) [Poem Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-growing-4799226/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Preliminary Negotiations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preliminary-negotiations-4799229/) [Questioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioning/) [Ritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ritual/) [Smashing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smashing/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-tall/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wondering Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wondering-poem-4799228/) ## Related quotes > [“Cutting losses was the watchword, as was throwing responsibility onto the shoulders of Indians. ‘You asked us to quit. 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