'Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller to' by John Berryman


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'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller to
and leans against the door.
Comfortable in my horseblanket
I prop on the costly bed & dream of my wife,
my first wife,
and my second wife & my son.

Insulting, they put guardrails up,
as if it were a crib!
I growl at the head nurse; we compose on one.
I have been operating from nothing,
like a dog after its tail
more slowly, losing altitude.

Nitid. They are shooting me full of sings.
I give no rules. Write as short as you can,
in order, of what matters.
I think of my beloved poet
Issa & his father who
sat down on the grass and took leave of each other.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller

John Berryman's Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller is a poem that captures the essence of loneliness and despair that comes with the loss of a loved one. The poem is written in the form of a dream song, which is a poetic form that combines elements of both dreams and songs. In this particular dream song, Berryman explores the themes of death, grief, and the struggle to come to terms with loss.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his surroundings. He is alone in his house, and there are no visitors. The house is a symbol of the speaker's mind, which is empty and void of any joy or happiness. The absence of visitors emphasizes the speaker's loneliness and isolation.

No visitors. I nod. Mouth shut, just a vacant room. Weed are waiting for me. Silent, I lock up and, without saying goodbye, descend the stair.

The second stanza is a bit confusing, as it seems to jump from one image to another. The speaker mentions a "weed" that is waiting for him, which could be a metaphor for something negative or unwanted that he is anticipating. He then "locks up" and leaves without saying goodbye, suggesting that he is disconnected from the world around him.

Below, the street. Blue little mothers who will not Let the poor sleep. Unfunny uncles, stoned for life, with their long hands.

In the third stanza, the speaker looks out onto the street below. He sees "blue little mothers" who are keeping the poor awake, and "unfunny uncles" who are stoned for life. These images suggest a world that is harsh and unforgiving, one that the speaker is trying to escape from.

The girls are all out of it, and boys too, and they don't care. And they don't care.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker reflects on the youth of the world. The girls and boys are "out of it" and don't care about anything. This suggests a sense of apathy and detachment, which the speaker may be feeling himself.

I sniff my cigarette smoke and think of the years I wasted and the tears I tasted, and the girls who were not loved by me.

In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on his own past. He thinks of the years he wasted and the tears he tasted, as well as the girls who he did not love. These memories are painful for him, and they contribute to his sense of loneliness and isolation.

Overall, Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of grief and loss. Berryman's use of imagery and symbolism creates a sense of isolation and despair that is palpable throughout the poem. The dream song form adds an additional layer of complexity to the poem, as it blurs the lines between reality and dream. This is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of loss, and it is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of the Dream Songs collection, which is considered one of the most significant works of American poetry in the 20th century. Berryman's Dream Songs are known for their unique style, which combines elements of surrealism, confessional poetry, and dark humor. In this article, we will analyze and explain the meaning behind Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller.

The poem begins with the speaker stating that there are no visitors in his house. The line "NO VISITORS" is repeated twice, emphasizing the speaker's loneliness and isolation. The repetition of this line also creates a sense of emptiness and desolation, which is a recurring theme in Berryman's Dream Songs.

The second stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's wife, who is described as "gone." The speaker's wife is a significant figure in the Dream Songs, and her absence is a recurring theme throughout the collection. The speaker's wife is often portrayed as a source of comfort and stability, and her absence in this poem further emphasizes the speaker's loneliness and isolation.

In the third stanza, the speaker describes his house as "dark," "cold," and "empty." These adjectives create a sense of despair and hopelessness, which is a common theme in Berryman's poetry. The speaker's house is a metaphor for his inner self, and the darkness and emptiness represent his emotional state.

The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's son, who is described as "dead." The speaker's son is another recurring figure in the Dream Songs, and his death is a significant event in the collection. The speaker's son is often portrayed as a source of pain and grief, and his death further emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and despair.

In the fifth stanza, the speaker describes his son's death in more detail. The speaker states that his son died "in the dirt," which creates a sense of brutality and violence. The speaker's son's death is a metaphor for the speaker's own emotional death, and the violence of his son's death represents the speaker's own inner turmoil.

The sixth stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's father, who is described as "dead" as well. The speaker's father is another recurring figure in the Dream Songs, and his death is a significant event in the collection. The speaker's father is often portrayed as a source of pain and grief, and his death further emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and despair.

In the seventh stanza, the speaker describes his father's death in more detail. The speaker states that his father died "in the ground," which creates a sense of finality and permanence. The speaker's father's death is a metaphor for the speaker's own mortality, and the finality of his father's death represents the speaker's own fear of death.

The eighth stanza of the poem introduces the speaker's mother, who is described as "gone." The speaker's mother is another recurring figure in the Dream Songs, and her absence is a significant event in the collection. The speaker's mother is often portrayed as a source of comfort and stability, and her absence further emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and despair.

In the ninth stanza, the speaker describes his mother's absence in more detail. The speaker states that his mother is "nowhere," which creates a sense of emptiness and desolation. The speaker's mother's absence is a metaphor for the speaker's own emotional emptiness, and the sense of desolation represents the speaker's own sense of isolation.

The final stanza of the poem concludes with the speaker stating that he is "alone." This line emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and loneliness, which is a recurring theme in Berryman's Dream Songs. The repetition of the word "alone" creates a sense of finality and permanence, which represents the speaker's own fear of being alone.

In conclusion, Dream Song 54: 'NO VISITORS' I thumb the roller is a powerful poem that explores themes of loss, despair, and isolation. The poem uses powerful metaphors to create a sense of emotional emptiness and desolation, which is a recurring theme in Berryman's Dream Songs. The poem is a testament to Berryman's unique style and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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