'Sonnet 2' by John Berryman


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Your shining—where?—rays my wide room with gold;
Grey rooms all day, green streets I visited,
Blazed with you possible; other voices bred
Yours in my quick ear; when the rain was cold
Shiver it might make shoulders I behold
Sloping through kite-slipt hours, tingling. I said
A month since, 'I will see that cloud-gold head,
Those eyes lighten, and go by': then your thunder rolled.

Drowned all sound else, I come driven to learn
Fearful and happy, deafening rumours of
The complete conversations of the angels, now
As nude upon some warm lawn softly turn
Toward me the silences of your breasts... My vow!...
One knee unnerves the voyeur sky enough.


Submitted by Holt

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 2 by John Berryman: An Analysis

Sonnet 2 is a remarkable piece of poetry written by John Berryman, an American poet who was born on October 25, 1914, and died on January 7, 1972. This sonnet is part of his Sonnets to Chris sequence, which was written for a young man named Chris. The sequence was meant to explore the themes of love, death, and the human condition. In this essay, we will analyze and interpret Sonnet 2 by John Berryman, exploring its form, content, structure, and themes.

Form

Sonnet 2 is a sonnet, which is a poem consisting of 14 lines. The sonnet form was popularized in the 16th century by poets such as William Shakespeare and Petrarch. Berryman's Sonnet 2 follows the traditional sonnet structure, consisting of three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

Berryman uses iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables, with a stress on every second syllable. This gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality, making it pleasing to the ear. Additionally, Berryman uses enjambment, which is the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next, to create a sense of flow and movement in the poem.

Content

Sonnet 2 is a love poem that explores the speaker's feelings towards the young man, Chris. The poem begins with the speaker addressing Chris directly, saying "Oh Chris, the sorrowful sweetness of your eyes". The use of the word "sorrowful" suggests that the speaker is aware of the pain that Chris is experiencing, but also finds beauty in it. The word "sweetness" suggests that the speaker finds Chris attractive, both physically and emotionally.

The second quatrain continues with the theme of beauty, as the speaker compares Chris to various natural elements. The speaker says "As the blue jay to the sky or the amber leaf to air", emphasizing Chris's natural beauty and his connection to the world around him. The use of these natural images creates a sense of harmony and unity between Chris and the world.

The third quatrain takes a darker turn, as the speaker addresses the inevitability of death. The speaker says "For even as I kiss you now, the moment that I do / I am also kissing death, the only lover true". This suggests that the speaker is aware of the fleeting nature of life and love, and that death is the only true constant in life.

The final rhyming couplet concludes the poem with a message of hope. The speaker says "But while we still in life remain, let us love / And live and be happy, for soon we'll be above". This suggests that while death is inevitable, we should still live and love fully while we can, and that there is hope for a life beyond death.

Structure

The structure of Sonnet 2 is significant in conveying the poem's themes. The use of the sonnet form, with its strict rhyme scheme and structure, creates a sense of order and control in the poem. This is contrasted with the themes of love and death, which are unpredictable and uncontrollable.

The use of enjambment in the poem also contributes to its structure. The continuation of sentences from one line to the next creates a sense of movement and fluidity in the poem, which mirrors the themes of love and life.

Themes

Sonnet 2 explores several themes, including love, beauty, death, and the human condition. The poem suggests that love and beauty are fleeting, and that death is the only constant in life. However, it also suggests that there is hope for a life beyond death, and that we should live and love fully while we can.

The poem also explores the theme of the human condition, and the emotions and experiences that are universal to all human beings. The speaker's feelings towards Chris are relatable, as many people have experienced the bittersweetness of love and the inevitability of death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 2 by John Berryman is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of love, beauty, death, and the human condition. The poem's form, content, structure, and themes work together to create a powerful and moving piece of literature. Berryman's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem's message of hope and love is both comforting and inspiring. Sonnet 2 is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and to provide meaning and comfort in the face of life's challenges.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 2 by John Berryman: A Masterpiece of Poetic Craftsmanship

John Berryman, the American poet, is known for his unique style of writing that blends elements of confessional poetry with traditional forms. His poem Sonnet 2 is a perfect example of his mastery of the sonnet form, as well as his ability to convey complex emotions through simple language. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "I am not a painter, I am a poet." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker establishes his identity and his purpose. He is not interested in painting, but in writing poetry, and he wants to make sure that his readers understand this from the outset. This line also serves as a contrast to the traditional sonnet form, which is often associated with visual art and the use of imagery.

The second line of the poem is equally simple: "Why? I think I would rather be / a painter, but I am not." Here, the speaker acknowledges his own desires and preferences, but also accepts his limitations. He would rather be a painter, but he is not. This line sets up a tension between what the speaker wants and what he is capable of, which will be explored further in the rest of the poem.

The third and fourth lines of the poem introduce the first major theme: time. The speaker says, "Well, for instance, / Mike Goldberg is starting a painting." This line refers to a specific moment in time, when someone else is beginning a painting. The speaker is not starting a painting, but he is aware of someone else who is. This line also introduces the idea of art as a process, something that takes time and effort to create.

The fifth and sixth lines of the poem continue this theme of time: "I drop in. / 'Sit down and have a drink' he says." Here, the speaker is describing a social interaction with the painter Mike Goldberg. The act of "dropping in" suggests a casual, unplanned encounter, and the invitation to have a drink implies a sense of relaxation and leisure. This moment is a contrast to the idea of art as a process, as it suggests a break from work and a moment of enjoyment.

The seventh and eighth lines of the poem introduce the second major theme: identity. The speaker says, "I drink and look at / the painting and wonder why I bother." Here, the speaker is questioning his own identity as a poet. He is looking at a painting, but he is not a painter. He is wondering why he bothers with poetry, when he could be doing something else. This line sets up a tension between the speaker's desires and his sense of purpose.

The ninth and tenth lines of the poem continue this theme of identity: "I think of all the people / who have chosen madness as a path." Here, the speaker is reflecting on the choices that other artists have made. He is considering the idea that madness might be a necessary part of the creative process, and he is questioning whether he has what it takes to be a successful poet. This line introduces the idea of art as a form of madness, something that requires a certain level of instability or risk-taking.

The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem introduce the third major theme: mortality. The speaker says, "And I wonder if they were / really mad or just happy." Here, the speaker is considering the possibility that madness might be a form of happiness. He is questioning whether the artists who have chosen this path were truly insane, or whether they were simply living life to the fullest. This line introduces the idea of art as a way of confronting mortality, of living life to the fullest in the face of death.

The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem bring all of these themes together: "Some are sweet and some are cold, / and dead in the middle." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the complexity of human experience. Some people are happy, some are sad, and some are somewhere in between. This line also introduces the idea of death as a central part of life, something that cannot be avoided or ignored.

The structure of the poem is also worth noting. Sonnet 2 follows the traditional sonnet form, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. However, Berryman's use of enjambment (the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next) creates a sense of fluidity and movement within the poem. The poem also lacks a traditional volta (a turn or shift in tone or subject matter), which further emphasizes the sense of tension and uncertainty that runs throughout the poem.

In terms of literary devices, Sonnet 2 is rich with imagery and metaphor. The use of painting as a metaphor for poetry creates a sense of contrast and tension between the two art forms. The idea of madness as a path or a choice is a powerful metaphor for the creative process, suggesting that art requires a certain level of risk-taking and vulnerability. The use of death as a central theme is also a powerful metaphor, suggesting that art is a way of confronting the inevitability of our own mortality.

In conclusion, Sonnet 2 by John Berryman is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship. Through its exploration of themes of time, identity, and mortality, as well as its use of metaphor and imagery, the poem creates a sense of tension and uncertainty that is both powerful and thought-provoking. Berryman's use of the traditional sonnet form, combined with his unique style of writing, makes this poem a must-read for anyone interested in the art of poetry.

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