'Dream Song 110: It was the blue & plain ones. I forget all that' by John Berryman


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It was the blue & plain ones. I forget all that.
My own clouds darkening hung.
Besides, it wasn't serious.
They took them in different rooms & fed them lies.
'She admitted you wanted to get rid of it.'
'He told us he told you to.'

The Force, with its rapists con-men murderers,
has been our Pride (trust Henry) eighty years;—
now Teddy was hard on.
Still the tradition persists, beat up, beat on,
take, take. Frame. Get set; cover up.
The Saturday confessions are really something.

Here was there less or nothing in question but horror.
She left his brother's son two minutes but—
as I say I forget that—
during the time he drowned. The laundry lived
and they lived, uncharged, and went their ways apart
with the blessing of the N.Y. Police Force.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 110: It was the blue & plain ones. I forget all that

John Berryman's Dream Song 110 is a poem that is rich in imagery and symbolism. The poem is a reflection on memory and how it can be both a source of comfort and pain.

At the outset of the poem, the speaker tells us that he cannot recall certain details of his past. He has forgotten "all that" and can only remember "the blue & plain ones." This initial line sets up a sense of fragmentation and disorientation that will permeate the rest of the poem.

The blue and plain ones are likely a reference to a specific type of clothing or fabric. This detail is not explicit, but rather implied through the use of color and texture. The speaker seems to be grasping for some sense of familiarity or nostalgia, but even this is elusive.

The next lines of the poem describe the speaker's attempts to make sense of his memories. He tries to connect the blue and plain ones to his family and childhood, but this effort is ultimately futile. The memories remain distant and inaccessible.

The speaker then shifts his attention to his own present state of mind. He reflects on his own mental state and how it has been affected by his inability to remember. He describes himself as "all the way down," which suggests a sense of despair and hopelessness.

The final lines of the poem offer a glimmer of hope, however. The speaker says that he is "too young to know what happened then," which suggests that he still has time to make sense of his memories and come to terms with his past.

Overall, Dream Song 110 is a deeply introspective poem that explores the complexities of memory and the ways in which it shapes our sense of self. The use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation that mirrors the speaker's own experience of memory. Despite the sense of despair that permeates the poem, there is a sense of hope that emerges in the final lines, suggesting that even the most painful memories can be overcome with time and reflection.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Berryman uses language to convey the speaker's sense of disorientation. The use of enjambment and fragmented syntax creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty that mirrors the subject matter of the poem. The repetition of "I forget all that" emphasizes the speaker's struggle to make sense of his memories and adds to the overall sense of fragmentation.

Another notable feature of the poem is the way in which Berryman uses color and texture to create a sense of mood and atmosphere. The use of the color blue in particular has a powerful effect, conveying a sense of nostalgia and longing that runs throughout the poem. The reference to "plain ones" suggests a sense of simplicity and innocence that is contrasted with the speaker's current state of mind.

In terms of interpretation, Dream Song 110 can be read as a meditation on the nature of memory and its impact on our sense of self. The fragmented syntax and ambiguous imagery suggest that memory is not a fixed or stable entity, but rather something that is constantly in flux. The use of repetition and circular structure further emphasizes this point, suggesting that memories are often revisited and reinterpreted over time.

At its core, Dream Song 110 is a deeply personal and introspective poem that speaks to the universal human experience of memory and the ways in which it shapes our sense of self. The vivid imagery and emotionally charged language create a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that is both powerful and haunting.

In conclusion, Dream Song 110 is a masterful exploration of memory and its impact on our sense of self. The use of vivid imagery, fragmented syntax, and repetition create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty that mirrors the subject matter of the poem. Despite the sense of despair that permeates the poem, there is a sense of hope that emerges in the final lines, suggesting that even the most painful memories can be overcome with time and reflection.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 110: It was the blue & plain ones. I forget all that is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his collection of poems called The Dream Songs, which was published in 1969. Berryman was an American poet, who was known for his confessional style of writing. He was a Pulitzer Prize winner and a professor of English at the University of Minnesota.

The Dream Songs is a collection of 385 poems, which are written in a unique style. The poems are written in a conversational tone, and they are often fragmented and disjointed. The poems are also known for their use of language, which is often playful and inventive. Dream Song 110 is one of the most famous poems from this collection.

The poem begins with the speaker reminiscing about his childhood. He remembers the blue and plain ones, which were the clothes that he used to wear as a child. The speaker then goes on to say that he forgets all that, which suggests that he is trying to distance himself from his past. The use of the word "forget" is significant because it implies that the speaker is trying to forget something that is painful or traumatic.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker begins to talk about death. He says that death is coming, and that he is not ready for it. The use of the word "coming" is significant because it suggests that death is inevitable and that it is getting closer. The speaker then says that he is not ready for death, which suggests that he is afraid of it.

The poem then takes another turn, as the speaker begins to talk about his relationship with his father. He says that his father was a good man, but that he was also flawed. The speaker then says that he is like his father, which suggests that he has inherited his father's flaws. The use of the word "like" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not exactly like his father, but that he shares some of his traits.

The poem then ends with the speaker saying that he is tired of dreaming. This suggests that the speaker is tired of living in a world of his own creation, and that he wants to face reality. The use of the word "dreaming" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not living in the real world, but in a world of his own making.

Dream Song 110 is a complex poem, which deals with a number of themes. One of the main themes of the poem is the theme of memory. The speaker is remembering his childhood, and he is trying to distance himself from it. This suggests that he is trying to forget something that is painful or traumatic. The use of the word "forget" is significant because it implies that the speaker is trying to forget something that he does not want to remember.

Another theme of the poem is the theme of death. The speaker is afraid of death, and he is not ready for it. This suggests that he is not living his life to the fullest, and that he is afraid of what comes after death. The use of the word "coming" is significant because it suggests that death is inevitable and that it is getting closer.

The theme of fatherhood is also present in the poem. The speaker talks about his father, and he says that he is like him. This suggests that the speaker has inherited his father's flaws, and that he is struggling to come to terms with them. The use of the word "like" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not exactly like his father, but that he shares some of his traits.

The theme of reality is also present in the poem. The speaker is tired of dreaming, and he wants to face reality. This suggests that he is not living in the real world, but in a world of his own making. The use of the word "dreaming" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is not living in the real world.

In conclusion, Dream Song 110: It was the blue & plain ones. I forget all that is a classic poem written by John Berryman. The poem deals with a number of themes, including memory, death, fatherhood, and reality. The poem is written in a unique style, which is both playful and inventive. The use of language is significant, and it adds to the overall effect of the poem. Dream Song 110 is a powerful poem, which continues to resonate with readers today.

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