'Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5' by John Berryman


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Maskt as honours, insult like behaving
missiles homes. I bow, & grunt 'Thank you.
I'm glad you could come
so late.' All loves are gratified. I'm having
to screw a little thing I have to screw.
Good nature is over.

Herewith ill-wishes. From a cozy grave
rainbow I scornful laughings. Do not do,
Father, me down.
Let's shuck an obligation. O I have
done. Is the inner-coffin burning blue
or did Jehovah frown?

Jehovah. Period. Yahweh. Period. God.
It is marvellous that views so differay
(Father is a Jesuit)
can love so well each other. We was had.
O visit in my last tomb me.—Perch?
—Is a nice pit.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 by John Berryman: A Literary Analysis

John Berryman’s poem, Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5, is a masterpiece that explores the complexity of the human psyche, the nature of love, and the inevitability of death. The poem is part of a larger collection of poems called the Dream Songs, which Berryman wrote over the course of several years. Dream Song 82 is particularly poignant because it was written shortly before Berryman’s death by suicide in 1972, and it reflects the poet’s own struggles with mental illness and addiction. This literary analysis will explore the themes, imagery, and language of Dream Song 82 and will attempt to offer insights into the poem’s meaning.

Themes

One of the primary themes of Dream Song 82 is the human experience of longing and desire. The poem opens with the lines, “I bear a heart inside me swollen with desire, / And a single desire is piercing me through,” which immediately establishes the poem’s central focus. Berryman’s speaker is consumed by a desire that he cannot satisfy, and this desire is so powerful that it shapes his entire worldview. The poem goes on to describe this desire as “a poison, a fever, a disease,” which further emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s longing.

Another theme that runs throughout Dream Song 82 is the inevitability of death. The poem’s final lines are particularly haunting, as the speaker laments, “the end of my life, my spirit turn / in a moment to poison and drench my heart.” This image of death as a kind of poison that overtakes the speaker’s heart is a powerful one, and it speaks to the idea that death is an unavoidable part of the human experience.

Finally, Dream Song 82 is a poem about the nature of love and the ways in which it can be both beautiful and destructive. The speaker’s desire is explicitly tied to his love for a particular person, and this love is described in vivid, sometimes violent language. For example, the speaker says that his love is “a terrible flame,” and he describes the object of his desire as “the girl who loves me, who I love.” The poem’s final lines also suggest that this love is ultimately destructive, as it leads to the speaker’s death.

Imagery

One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 82 is its use of vivid imagery. Berryman’s speaker uses metaphor and simile to describe his desire and his love in ways that are both beautiful and unsettling. For example, the speaker says that his desire is “like a hot knife / slicing through butter,” which is both a vivid and somewhat violent image. Similarly, the speaker describes his love as “a terrible flame / that burns me through and through,” which suggests both the beauty and the destructiveness of this emotion.

Another powerful image in the poem is the depiction of death as a kind of poison that overtakes the speaker’s heart. This image is particularly effective because it draws on the idea of poison as something that is both powerful and uncontrollable. The speaker’s death is not something that he can avoid or fight against; it is something that will overtake him regardless of his will.

Language

The language of Dream Song 82 is both beautiful and haunting. Berryman’s use of metaphor and simile is particularly effective, as it allows him to describe complex emotional states in concrete, tangible terms. The poem’s opening lines, for example, use the metaphor of a heart “swollen with desire” to describe the speaker’s intense longing. Similarly, the image of love as a “terrible flame” is a powerful one that captures the intensity of the speaker’s emotions.

Another notable aspect of the language in Dream Song 82 is the use of repetition. The poem’s refrain, “I have been loved by many ladies,” is repeated several times throughout the poem, and this repetition serves to emphasize the speaker’s experience of love and desire. Similarly, the use of the phrase “Op. posth. no. 5” in the title and throughout the poem creates a sense of finality and closure, as if the poem is marking the end of something significant.

Interpretation

Dream Song 82 is a complex and multifaceted poem, and there are many possible interpretations of its meaning. One possible reading is that the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the ways in which our desires and loves can ultimately lead to our demise. The speaker’s intense longing is both beautiful and destructive, and it ultimately leads to his death.

Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the nature of addiction and mental illness. Berryman struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout his life, and it is possible that the speaker’s intense desire and the final image of death as a kind of poison are meant to evoke the experience of addiction.

Finally, Dream Song 82 can be read as a commentary on the human experience of love and the ways in which it can both elevate and destroy us. The speaker’s love for the girl who loves him is both beautiful and terrible, and it ultimately leads to his death. This reading suggests that love is a powerful emotion that can have both positive and negative consequences, and that it is something that we must approach with caution and care.

Conclusion

Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 is a powerful and deeply affecting poem that explores complex emotions and themes. Berryman’s use of vivid imagery and language creates a sense of intensity and urgency that draws the reader into the speaker’s world. The poem’s themes of longing, death, and love are all intertwined in a way that creates a sense of inevitability and finality. Ultimately, Dream Song 82 is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity of the human experience and to offer insights into the nature of our desires, loves, and fears.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs, a collection of 385 poems that were published in 1969. The Dream Songs are known for their unique style, which combines elements of both free verse and traditional forms of poetry. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 and explore its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream that he had. He dreams that he is in a room with a group of people, including his father. The speaker's father is described as being "dead" and "gone," which suggests that he has passed away. The speaker then goes on to describe how he feels in the dream. He says that he feels "lost" and "alone," which suggests that he is struggling with his emotions.

The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker's emotions really come to the forefront. He describes how he feels like he is "drowning" and that he is "suffocating" in his own emotions. This is a powerful image that conveys the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness. The use of the word "suffocating" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is being overwhelmed by his emotions.

The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker's father comes back into focus. The speaker describes how his father is "smiling" at him, which suggests that he is trying to comfort him. However, the speaker also says that his father's smile is "terrible," which suggests that it is not a genuine smile. This is a complex image that suggests that the speaker's relationship with his father was complicated.

The fourth stanza of the poem is where the speaker's emotions start to shift. He describes how he feels like he is "floating" and that he is "weightless." This is a powerful image that suggests that the speaker is starting to let go of his emotions. The use of the word "weightless" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is no longer burdened by his emotions.

The fifth and final stanza of the poem is where the speaker's emotions come full circle. He describes how he feels like he is "drowning" again, but this time he is "drowning in light." This is a powerful image that suggests that the speaker is experiencing a moment of clarity. The use of the word "light" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is seeing things in a new way.

Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 is a powerful poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and emotional turmoil. The poem is structured in five stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's emotions. The use of imagery and literary devices such as metaphor and personification is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's emotions.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which the speaker's emotions shift throughout the poem. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker is overwhelmed by his emotions and feels lost and alone. However, as the poem progresses, the speaker's emotions start to shift. He begins to let go of his emotions and experiences a moment of clarity at the end of the poem.

Another striking aspect of the poem is the way in which the speaker's relationship with his father is portrayed. The speaker's father is described as being "dead" and "gone," which suggests that he has passed away. However, the speaker's father also appears in the dream and tries to comfort him. This is a complex image that suggests that the speaker's relationship with his father was complicated.

The use of imagery and literary devices in Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's emotions. The use of metaphor, personification, and imagery is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness. The use of the word "suffocating" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the speaker is being overwhelmed by his emotions.

In conclusion, Dream Song 82: Op. posth. no. 5 is a powerful poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and emotional turmoil. The poem is structured in five stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's emotions. The use of imagery and literary devices such as metaphor and personification is particularly effective in conveying the speaker's emotions. This poem is a testament to John Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to convey complex emotions through his writing.

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