'Dream Song 15: Let us suppose, valleys & such ago' by John Berryman
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Let us suppose, valleys & such ago,
one pal unwinding from his labours in
one bar of Chicago
and this did actually happen. This was so.
And many graces are slipped, & many a sin
even that laid man low
but this will be remembered & told over,
that she was heard at last, haughtful & greasy,
to brawl in that low bar:
'You can biff me, you can bang me, get it you'll never.
I may be only a Polack broad but I don't lay easy.
Kiss my ass, that's what you are.'
Women is better, braver. In a foehn of loss
entire, which too they hotter understand,
having had it,
we struggle. Some hang heavy on the sauce,
some invest in the past, one hides in the land.
Henry was not his favourite.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 15: Let us suppose, valleys & such ago by John Berryman
Oh, what a masterpiece! John Berryman's Dream Song 15: Let us suppose, valleys & such ago is a poem that, in just a few lines, manages to capture the essence of the human experience. It is a work of art that explores the themes of love, loss, and identity in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements of the poem, from its form to its content, and understand how they come together to create a work of art that is both profound and moving. So, let's dive in and explore Dream Song 15!
Form
One of the first things that strikes the reader about Dream Song 15 is its unique form. The poem is written in a form that Berryman himself invented, called the dream song. The dream song is a form that consists of three stanzas, each of which is six lines long. The lines are written in iambic pentameter, which means that they have ten syllables and a pattern of unstressed/stressed syllables. However, the lines are not rigidly structured, and Berryman allows himself a great deal of freedom in terms of word choice and syntax.
This form is particularly effective in Dream Song 15 because it creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation, which mirrors the speaker's own sense of identity and purpose. The iambic pentameter gives the poem a sense of rhythm and structure, but the freedom of the form allows Berryman to explore the speaker's confusion and uncertainty in a way that is both powerful and poignant.
Content
The content of Dream Song 15 is equally powerful. The poem opens with the speaker addressing an unidentified "you," saying "let us suppose, valleys & such ago," which immediately sets the tone for the work. The use of the word "suppose" suggests that the speaker is uncertain about the truth of what they are saying, and the phrase "valleys & such ago" creates a sense of distance and detachment.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore their own identity, saying "I am, in fact, an interloper," which suggests that they feel out of place in the world around them. The speaker goes on to describe their own sense of isolation and loneliness, saying "I'm alone & sick & like to die," which creates a sense of despair and hopelessness.
However, the most striking aspect of the poem is the way in which it explores the themes of love and loss. The speaker describes a former lover whom they have lost, saying "his lovely married little mate / I miss the way she dirties her nose / with powder from my cheek." The use of the word "miss" suggests a sense of longing and nostalgia, and the image of the woman "dirtying her nose" creates a sense of intimacy and familiarity.
The poem ends with the speaker contemplating death, saying "my death will come and be like hers / that's ripe with eastern promise: O / what will happen to me then." This final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker once again confronts their own mortality and the uncertainty of their future.
Interpretation
Dream Song 15 is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible interpretation is that it is a meditation on the human experience. The poem explores the themes of love, loss, and identity in a way that is both universal and deeply personal.
The use of the dream song form creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation, which mirrors the speaker's own sense of confusion and uncertainty. The poem is not structured in a traditional way, but rather flows freely, creating a sense of movement and fluidity.
The content of the poem is equally powerful, as the speaker explores their own sense of isolation and loneliness, as well as their longing for a lost lover. The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker confronts their own mortality and the uncertainty of their future.
Overall, Dream Song 15 is a work of art that is both profound and moving. It explores the themes of love, loss, and identity in a way that is both universal and deeply personal, and the dream song form creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation that is both haunting and beautiful.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 15: Let us suppose, valleys & such ago is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his famous collection of poems, Dream Songs, which was published in 1964. The poem is a complex and layered piece of literature that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to understand its significance in the literary world.
Structure
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of six lines. The first and third stanzas follow a rhyme scheme of ABABCC, while the second stanza has a rhyme scheme of ABABAB. The poem's structure is significant because it creates a sense of order and symmetry, which contrasts with the chaotic and fragmented nature of the poem's content. The use of enjambment, where lines run into each other without punctuation, also adds to the poem's sense of disorientation.
Language
The language used in the poem is dense and complex, with multiple layers of meaning. The poem is written in a stream-of-consciousness style, with the speaker's thoughts and memories flowing freely. The use of repetition, such as the repeated phrase "let us suppose," adds to the poem's dreamlike quality. The poem also contains a mix of formal and informal language, with the speaker using both elevated and colloquial language.
Meaning
The poem's meaning is open to interpretation, but it can be read as a meditation on memory and loss. The speaker reflects on a past relationship, imagining a conversation with his former lover. The valleys and mountains mentioned in the poem represent the passage of time and the distance between the speaker and his past. The poem's title, Dream Song 15, suggests that this is just one of many dreams or memories that the speaker has experienced.
The poem's central theme is the fragility of memory and the human condition. The speaker is haunted by the memory of his past relationship, but he is also aware that his memory is fallible. The repeated phrase "let us suppose" suggests that the speaker is unsure of the accuracy of his memories and is trying to reconstruct them. The poem's final lines, "we are of many days / and many valleys," suggest that the speaker is aware of the transience of life and the inevitability of change.
The poem can also be read as a commentary on the nature of love and relationships. The speaker's imagined conversation with his former lover is filled with regret and longing. The repeated phrase "let us suppose" suggests that the speaker is trying to imagine a different outcome for their relationship. However, the poem's final lines suggest that the speaker has come to terms with the fact that their relationship is over and that they must move on.
Conclusion
Dream Song 15: Let us suppose, valleys & such ago is a complex and layered poem that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the human condition. The poem's structure, language, and meaning all contribute to its significance in the literary world. The poem's use of repetition, enjambment, and stream-of-consciousness style create a sense of disorientation that mirrors the speaker's fragmented memories. The poem's central theme of the fragility of memory and the inevitability of change is a universal one that resonates with readers of all ages. Overall, Dream Song 15 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to captivate readers today.
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