'Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it' by John Berryman
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Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it,
the whole humiliating Human round,
out of this & that.
He made a-many hearts go pit-a-pat
who now need never mind his nostril-hair
nor a critical error laid bare.
He endured fifty years. He was Randall Jarrell
and wrote a-many books & he wrote well.
Peace to the bearded corpse.
His last book was his best. His wives loved him.
He saw in the forest something coming, grim,
but did not change his purpose.
Honest & cruel, peace now to his soul.
He never loved his body, being full of dents.
A wrinkled peace to this good man.
Henry is half in love with one of his students
and the sad process continues to the whole
as it swarmed & began.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it - A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
John Berryman's "Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that brilliantly captures the subtle nuances of human emotions, particularly the feeling of grief and exhaustion that often accompanies it. The poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs, a collection of 385 poems that explore the complex and often surreal world of dreams and the subconscious. In this literary criticism, we will delve deep into the themes, motifs, and symbols present in "Dream Song 121" and explore their significance in the context of the larger work.
Summary
The poem begins with the speaker describing a man who is "out of it," suggesting that he is either dead or has lost touch with reality. The speaker goes on to describe the process of grief, likening it to a "customary nightmare" that the man has been going through. The man's grief is so intense that it has left him physically and mentally exhausted, with his eyes sunken and his hands trembling. The speaker then addresses the man directly, telling him to "get up" and "shake it off," but also acknowledging that such advice is easier said than done. The poem ends with a haunting image of the man lying in a pool of his own blood, suggesting that his grief has led him to take his own life.
Analysis
Theme of Grief
One of the central themes of "Dream Song 121" is grief and the toll it takes on the human psyche. The poem captures the raw and visceral emotions that come with the loss of a loved one, or any other significant event that has a profound impact on one's life. Berryman describes grief as a "customary nightmare" that the man is going through, suggesting that it is a natural and expected part of the human experience. The use of the word "nightmare" also implies that grief can be terrifying and overwhelming, like a bad dream that one cannot escape.
Berryman's description of the man's physical and mental state further emphasizes the toll that grief takes on the body and mind. The image of the man with sunken eyes and trembling hands suggests that he has been worn down by the intensity of his emotions. The phrase "grief is fatiguing" speaks to the exhaustion that often accompanies grief, as the mind and body struggle to cope with the weight of loss.
The Surrealist Style
"Dream Song 121" is a prime example of Berryman's surreal and dreamlike style of writing. The use of imagery is particularly effective in creating a haunting and otherworldly atmosphere. For example, the image of the man lying in a pool of his own blood at the end of the poem is both gruesome and surreal, adding to the overall sense of unease and disorientation.
The use of repetition and unconventional syntax also adds to the dreamlike quality of the poem. The phrase "he is out of it" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of detachment and dissociation. The lack of punctuation and unconventional grammar adds to the sense of disorientation, as the reader is forced to piece together the meaning of the poem through the fragmented language.
The Significance of the Title
The title of the poem, "Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it," is significant in several ways. The use of the word "dream" in the title signals that the poem is part of a larger collection of poems that explore the world of dreams and the subconscious. The inclusion of the phrase "he is out of it" in the title also sets the tone for the poem, suggesting that the man is either dead or disconnected from reality.
The phrase "grief is fatiguing" is a key theme of the poem, and its inclusion in the title emphasizes the importance of this theme. The title also sets up the reader's expectation for the poem, hinting at the dark and unsettling imagery that is to come.
Symbolism
Several symbols are present in "Dream Song 121," each contributing to the overall meaning of the poem. One of the most significant symbols is the image of blood, which is present throughout the poem. The use of blood suggests violence and death, adding to the overall sense of unease and darkness in the poem. The image of the man lying in a pool of his own blood at the end of the poem is particularly powerful, suggesting that his grief has led him to take his own life.
The use of the phrase "customary nightmare" also has symbolic significance. The phrase suggests that grief is a universal experience, something that is customary and expected. This idea is further reinforced by the surreal and dreamlike quality of the poem, which suggests that grief is a part of the larger subconscious realm of human experience.
The Role of the Speaker
The role of the speaker in "Dream Song 121" is complex and multifaceted. At times, the speaker seems to be addressing the man directly, urging him to "get up" and "shake it off." At other times, the speaker seems to be observing the man from a distance, describing his physical and mental state in detached and clinical language.
The ambiguity of the speaker's role adds to the overall sense of unease and disorientation in the poem. It is unclear whether the speaker is meant to be a sympathetic figure, trying to help the man through his grief, or a detached observer, merely describing the man's state of mind.
Conclusion
"Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it" is a masterful work of modern poetry that explores the complex and often unsettling world of grief and loss. The poem's surreal and dreamlike quality, along with its use of powerful imagery and symbols, creates a haunting and unforgettable reading experience. Berryman's skillful use of language and unconventional grammar only add to the sense of disorientation and unease, ultimately creating a work of art that is both beautiful and disturbing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it is a classic poem written by John Berryman, an American poet known for his confessional style of writing. This poem is a part of his collection of Dream Songs, which is a sequence of 385 poems that explore the inner life of the speaker, Henry, and his struggles with identity, love, and loss. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and language of Dream Song 121 to understand its significance and impact.
The poem begins with the line "Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is tired of feeling grief and wants to move on from it. This sentiment is echoed in the second line, "The whole machinery of his mind has stopped," which suggests that the speaker's mental state has been affected by his grief. The use of the word "machinery" implies that the speaker's mind is a complex system that has broken down due to the weight of his emotions.
The poem then shifts to a description of the speaker's physical state, "He is out of it. The blood is dried on his face." This line suggests that the speaker has been crying and that his tears have dried up. The use of the word "blood" adds a sense of violence to the image, as if the speaker has been wounded by his grief. The next line, "Only the tireless engines still move on," reinforces the idea that the speaker's mind is a machine that has stopped working. The use of the word "tireless" suggests that the engines are still functioning, even though the rest of the machinery has stopped.
The poem then takes a surreal turn with the line, "As if he were not a man, but a thing that had happened." This line suggests that the speaker has become disconnected from his own identity and is now just a passive observer of his own life. The use of the word "thing" dehumanizes the speaker and reinforces the idea that he has lost touch with his own emotions. The next line, "As if his own life had happened and were not his," further emphasizes this sense of detachment.
The poem then shifts to a description of the speaker's surroundings, "The cars pass him like waves that he cannot see." This line suggests that the speaker is lost in his own thoughts and is not paying attention to the world around him. The use of the word "waves" adds a sense of movement and fluidity to the image, as if the cars are part of a larger natural force that the speaker cannot control. The next line, "The night is a drum, and he is deaf to it," reinforces the idea that the speaker is disconnected from his surroundings. The use of the word "drum" adds a sense of rhythm and urgency to the image, as if the night is trying to communicate with the speaker but he is unable to hear it.
The poem then returns to the theme of grief with the line, "He is out of it. The grief is fatiguing." This line suggests that the speaker is tired of feeling grief and wants to move on from it. The use of the word "fatiguing" adds a sense of exhaustion to the image, as if the speaker has been carrying the weight of his emotions for a long time. The next line, "He is out of it. Also, the world. People are no longer of interest," reinforces the idea that the speaker has become disconnected from the world around him. The use of the word "interest" suggests that the speaker has lost his sense of curiosity and engagement with the world.
The poem then takes a surreal turn with the line, "He is out of it. The moon is a stone and the stars are drops of blood." This line suggests that the speaker's perception of the world has become distorted by his grief. The use of the word "stone" adds a sense of solidity and permanence to the image, as if the moon is no longer a celestial object but a physical one. The use of the word "blood" adds a sense of violence and pain to the image, as if the stars are a reminder of the speaker's own suffering.
The poem then ends with the line, "He is out of it. The night is long and cold." This line suggests that the speaker is still lost in his own thoughts and is unable to find comfort in the world around him. The use of the word "long" adds a sense of duration to the image, as if the night will never end. The use of the word "cold" adds a sense of discomfort and isolation to the image, as if the speaker is alone in his grief.
Dream Song 121: Grief is fatiguing. He is out of it is a powerful poem that explores the themes of grief, detachment, and disconnection. The use of surreal imagery and language adds a sense of depth and complexity to the piece, as if the speaker's emotions are too complex to be expressed in a straightforward manner. The poem is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the inner life of his characters with precision and nuance.
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