My Philosophy of Life by John Ashbery   “My Philosophy of Life” is a stream-of-consciousness meditation whose message—a personal “philosophy of life”—is illustrated through its details and abundance of turns, despite being from a speaker who seems to have little sense of clarity or conviction. It’s this little sense of clarity or conviction, however, that helps lead us to the philosophy itself: life can be full of turns, impermanence, and is subject to change with little warning, so it’s best to embrace whimsy, live our lives, and enjoy ourselves. Although it may seem evasive on its surface, the poem is filled with a meandering collection of details that guide the reader to its overall message rather than stating that message outright. “Eating watermelon,” “going…