'Dream Song 134: Sick at 6 & sick again at 9' by John Berryman
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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Sick at 6 & sick again at 9
was Henry's gloomy Monday morning oh.
Still he had to lecture.
They waited, his little children, for stricken Henry
to rise up yet once more again and come oh.
They figured he was a fixture,nuts to their bolds, keys to their bloody locks.
One day the whole affair will fall apart
with a rustle of fire,
a wrestle of undoing, as of tossed clocks,
and somewhere not far off a broken heart
for hire.He had smoked a pack of cigarettes by 10
& was ready to go. Peace to his ashes then,
poor Henry,
with all this gas & shit blowing through it
four times in 2 hours, his tail ached.
He arose, benign, & performed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Depths of Despair: A Literary Criticism of John Berryman's Dream Song 134
If there's one thing that makes John Berryman's poetry stand out, it's his ability to capture the raw emotions and inner turmoil of his characters. His Dream Songs are a testament to this, with each poem delving deeper into the psyche of Henry, his alter-ego who is plagued by existential angst and personal demons. In Dream Song 134: Sick at 6 & sick again at 9, Berryman takes us on a journey through the depths of despair, exploring themes of sickness, death, and the search for meaning in a meaningless world.
The Poem: A Close Reading
The poem begins with Henry waking up at 6 am, feeling sick and miserable. The opening lines are filled with vivid imagery that sets the tone for the rest of the poem:
The window is black & silent. The stars
whirl round dark moons of grief & formlessness.
The air tastes bitter in my mouth.
The use of the color black creates a sense of foreboding, while the stars and dark moons symbolize the feeling of being lost in the vastness of the universe. The bitterness in the air is a metaphor for Henry's own bitterness towards life and the world around him.
The second stanza continues in the same vein, with Henry describing his physical symptoms in graphic detail:
My skin is clammy, my head aches,
my stomach churns & heaves like a stormy sea.
The use of the sea metaphor is interesting, as it suggests that Henry's sickness is not just physical but emotional as well. He is being tossed around by the waves of his own emotions, unable to find a way to calm his inner turmoil.
The third stanza introduces a new character, Dr. J. This is a recurring character in the Dream Songs, and represents the figure of authority and control that Henry is constantly struggling against. Dr. J tells Henry to "take it easy", but this advice is completely useless in the face of Henry's overwhelming despair. The stanza ends with the lines:
I want to die, I tell him, I can't stand it any longer.
He shrugs, says something soothing & meaningless.
This is a powerful moment in the poem, as it highlights the disconnect between Henry and the people around him. Dr. J's words are meaningless to Henry, because they do nothing to alleviate his pain. The repetition of the phrase "I can't stand it any longer" emphasizes the intensity of Henry's suffering.
The fourth stanza takes a more philosophical turn, as Henry begins to question the nature of existence:
What is it all for, this life, this suffering, this
endless cycle of birth & death & decay?
This is a universal question that has plagued humans for centuries. Henry's inability to find an answer is a reflection of the inherent meaninglessness of life.
The fifth stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem. It begins with the lines:
I am sick at heart, sick in body & soul.
I want to curl up & die.
The use of the phrase "sick in body & soul" is particularly striking, as it suggests that Henry's sickness is not just physical but spiritual as well. The desire to curl up and die is a common sentiment among people who are struggling with depression or other mental health issues.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as Henry wakes up at 9 am feeling sick again. The repetition of the opening lines creates a sense of circularity, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of suffering.
Interpretation: Themes and Symbols
Dream Song 134 is a poem that is rich in symbolism and meaning. Here are some of the key themes that emerge from the poem:
Sickness and Death
The theme of sickness is prominent throughout the poem. Henry's physical symptoms are described in vivid detail, and his desire to die is a recurring motif. This is a reflection of the human condition, which is characterized by the inevitability of sickness and death. Berryman does not shy away from this reality, but instead confronts it head-on.
The Search for Meaning
Henry's existential angst is a central theme in the poem. He questions the purpose of life and struggles to find meaning in a world that seems to be devoid of it. This is a common theme in modernist literature, and reflects the disillusionment of many writers who lived through the horrors of World War I and the aftermath of the Great Depression.
The Figure of Dr. J
Dr. J is a recurring character in the Dream Songs, and represents the figure of authority and control that Henry is constantly struggling against. His soothing words and meaningless advice are a reflection of the inability of others to understand or alleviate Henry's pain. In some ways, Dr. J represents the oppressive forces of society that seek to impose order and conformity on individual expression.
Symbolism
Berryman makes use of a number of symbols in the poem, including the color black, the stars and dark moons, and the sea. These symbols are all associated with negative emotions and ideas, such as grief, formlessness, and chaos. They are a reflection of Henry's inner turmoil and the sense of despair that permeates the poem.
Conclusion
Dream Song 134 is a powerful and poignant poem that captures the depths of human suffering and despair. Berryman's use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of emotional intensity that is difficult to ignore. The poem is a reflection of the human condition, and the search for meaning in a world that can often seem cruel and indifferent. It is a testament to the power of poetry to express the deepest and most complex emotions of the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Dream Song 134: Sick at 6 & sick again at 9 is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his famous Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker describing his sickness at the age of six. He talks about how he was "sick at 6 & sick again at 9," indicating that he has been sick multiple times in his life. The speaker then goes on to describe his experience of being sick, saying that he was "sick in the head" and "sick in the heart." This line suggests that the speaker's sickness was not just physical but also emotional.
The next few lines of the poem describe the speaker's mother taking care of him when he was sick. He talks about how she would "lay me down" and "cool my brow," indicating that she was a caring and nurturing mother. However, the speaker also mentions that his mother was "sick with worry," suggesting that his sickness was a source of stress and anxiety for her as well.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on his life and his relationship with his mother. He talks about how he was "born to her" and how she "bore me in her body." These lines suggest that the speaker feels a deep connection to his mother, and that he recognizes the sacrifices she made for him.
The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker begins to contemplate death. He talks about how he "dreams of dying" and how he is "sick of living." These lines suggest that the speaker is struggling with depression and that he is contemplating suicide. The speaker then goes on to describe his fear of death, saying that he is "afraid to die" and that he is "afraid to live."
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says that he is "sick of love" and that he is "sick of hate." These lines suggest that the speaker is tired of the emotional turmoil that comes with human relationships. He then goes on to say that he is "sick of life" and that he is "sick of death." These lines suggest that the speaker is tired of the cycle of life and death, and that he is searching for a way out.
In terms of structure, the poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and raw emotion. The poem is also divided into stanzas of varying lengths, which adds to its sense of unpredictability.
One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "sick at 6 & sick again at 9" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's experience of sickness. The repetition of the phrase "sick of" also adds to the poem's sense of despair and hopelessness.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. The speaker's description of his sickness is vivid and evocative, with lines like "sick in the head" and "sick in the heart" painting a picture of physical and emotional pain. The image of the mother "laying [the speaker] down" and "cooling [his] brow" is also powerful, emphasizing the nurturing and caring nature of motherhood.
In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 134: Sick at 6 & sick again at 9 is a powerful and emotional poem that explores themes of sickness, motherhood, and mortality. The poem's structure and literary devices add to its sense of raw emotion and spontaneity, making it a classic example of Berryman's unique style. Overall, this poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.
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