'Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast' by John Berryman
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Acacia, burnt myrrh, velvet, pricky stings.
—I'm not so young but not so very old,
said screwed-up lovely 23.
A final sense of being right out in the cold,
unkissed.
(—My psychiatrist can lick your psychiatrist.) Women get under
things.
All these old criminals sooner or later
have had it. I've been reading old journals.
Gottwald & Co., out of business now.
Thick chests quit. Double agent, Joe.
She holds her breath like a seal
and is whiter & smoother.
Rilke was a jerk.
I admit his griefs & music
& titled spelled all-disappointed ladies.
A threshold worse than the circles
where the vile settle & lurk,
Rilke's. As I said,—
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast by John Berryman
Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is a poem written by John Berryman in his collection of poems, The Dream Songs. The poem was published in 1964, and it is considered one of the most significant works in American poetry. In this critique, we will explore the stylistic elements, the themes, and the interpretation of this masterpiece.
Stylistic Elements
Berryman's style in Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is unique and distinctive. The poem consists of 18 stanzas, each with three lines, and it follows an irregular rhyme scheme. The poem's structure is unpredictable, and it is not easy to find a definite pattern in the poem. Berryman's style is modernist, and he employs several literary devices to convey his message.
One of the literary devices that Berryman uses in the poem is allusion. He alludes to several literary works, including the Bible, Shakespeare's Hamlet, and T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. For example, in the third stanza, Berryman writes, "I saw his yellow eyes in the west," an allusion to the biblical story of Daniel in the lion's den. In the twelfth stanza, Berryman writes, "Let's go, my hatchet-faced & contentious joy," an allusion to Hamlet's soliloquy, "To be or not to be."
Berryman also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the poem's subject. He describes the old beast as a "stinking hulk," "the bear at charge," and "the big strip tease." These images are powerful and create a sense of unease and discomfort in the reader.
In addition, Berryman employs repetition to create a rhythmic effect in the poem. He repeats the phrase "old beast" throughout the poem, emphasizing the subject's age and animalistic qualities. He also repeats the phrase "It was the shirt I wore" in several stanzas, creating a sense of confusion and disorientation.
Themes
The central theme of Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is the struggle with the self. Berryman explores the idea of the self as both a source of power and a source of weakness. The old beast represents the speaker's innermost self, the primal and animalistic part of the human psyche. The speaker struggles with this part of himself, and he seeks a way to control and harness it.
Another theme in the poem is the idea of mortality. The old beast is a symbol of the speaker's mortality, and the poem explores the fear of aging and death. The speaker acknowledges his mortality, but he also seeks a way to transcend it. He wants to find a way to live beyond his physical body and to achieve a kind of immortality.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of identity. The speaker struggles to define himself and to understand his place in the world. He is torn between his animalistic desires and his human consciousness, and he seeks a way to reconcile these two parts of himself.
Interpretation
Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is a complex and challenging poem that rewards close reading and interpretation. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human condition, and it explores fundamental questions about identity, mortality, and the struggle with the self.
The old beast in the poem represents the primal and animalistic part of the human psyche. The speaker acknowledges that this part of himself is powerful and uncontrollable, but he also seeks a way to harness it. He wants to use this power to transcend his mortality and to achieve a kind of immortality.
The repetition of the phrase "It was the shirt I wore" is significant. It creates a sense of confusion and disorientation, suggesting that the speaker's identity is in flux. He is struggling to define himself and to understand his place in the world.
The allusions to other literary works are also significant. They suggest that the speaker is not alone in his struggle. He is part of a long tradition of writers and thinkers who have grappled with these same questions. The allusions also create a sense of universality, suggesting that these questions are fundamental to the human experience.
In conclusion, Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is a powerful and complex poem that explores fundamental questions about the human condition. Berryman's unique style, his use of allusion and imagery, and his exploration of themes such as identity and mortality make this poem a masterpiece of American poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its unique style and powerful imagery. The poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and often surreal themes. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing an old beast, which is likely a metaphor for himself. The speaker tells the beast that he needs a stimulant to keep going, to keep living. The beast is tired and worn out, and the speaker is trying to find a way to keep it alive. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with its dark and melancholic imagery.
The second stanza introduces the idea of death, with the speaker saying that he is afraid of dying. He talks about how death is always lurking in the background, waiting to take him away. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing death as a "black sail" that is always on the horizon.
The third stanza is where the poem really starts to take off. The speaker begins to talk about his dreams, and how they are a source of comfort for him. He talks about how his dreams are like a "magic carpet" that can take him away from his troubles. The imagery in this stanza is particularly vivid, with the speaker describing his dreams as a "bright bird" that can fly him away to safety.
The fourth stanza is where the poem takes a turn, with the speaker addressing his wife. He talks about how he loves her, but how he is also afraid of her. He describes her as a "black widow" who is always waiting to trap him. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing his wife as a "spider" who is always spinning her web.
The fifth stanza is where the poem really starts to get surreal. The speaker talks about how he is a "monster" who is always hungry. He describes himself as a "beast" who is always looking for something to eat. The imagery in this stanza is particularly vivid, with the speaker describing himself as a "lion" who is always on the prowl.
The sixth stanza is where the poem takes a turn again, with the speaker addressing his father. He talks about how his father is always with him, even though he is dead. He describes his father as a "ghost" who is always haunting him. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing his father as a "shadow" who is always lurking in the background.
The seventh and final stanza is where the poem reaches its climax. The speaker talks about how he needs a stimulant to keep going, to keep living. He describes himself as a "junkie" who is always looking for his next fix. The imagery in this stanza is particularly powerful, with the speaker describing himself as a "fiend" who is always looking for his next hit.
Overall, Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of death, love, and addiction. The poem is structured in a way that allows the reader to follow the speaker's journey, from his initial despair to his eventual realization that he needs a stimulant to keep going. The imagery in the poem is particularly powerful, with Berryman using vivid and surreal images to convey the speaker's emotions.
One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way that Berryman uses metaphor and symbolism to explore his themes. The old beast, for example, is likely a metaphor for the speaker himself, with the stimulant representing the thing that he needs to keep going. The black sail, on the other hand, is likely a metaphor for death, with the speaker describing it as something that is always on the horizon.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way that Berryman uses repetition to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. The phrase "I'm scared" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of unease and anxiety. Similarly, the phrase "I need a fix" is repeated several times in the final stanza, creating a sense of urgency and desperation.
In conclusion, Dream Song 3: A Stimulant for an Old Beast is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of death, love, and addiction. The poem is structured in a way that allows the reader to follow the speaker's journey, from his initial despair to his eventual realization that he needs a stimulant to keep going. The imagery in the poem is particularly powerful, with Berryman using vivid and surreal images to convey the speaker's emotions. Overall, this is a poem that is well worth reading and analyzing, as it offers a unique and insightful perspective on the human experience.
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