'Sonnet 39' by John Berryman
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And does the old wound shudder open? Shall
I nurse again my days to a girl's sight,
Feeling the bandaged and unquiet night
Slide? Writhe in silly ecstasy? Banal
Greetings rehearse till a quotidian drawl
Carols a promise? Stoop an acolyte
Who stood my master? Must my blood flow bright,
Childish, I chilled and darkened? Strong pulse crawl?
I see I do, it must, trembling I see
Grace of her switching walk away from me
Fastens me where I stop now, smiling pain;
And neither pride don nor the fever shed
More, till the furor when we slide to bed,
Enter calenture for the boiling brain.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into John Berryman's Sonnet 39
Wow, what a beautiful poem! John Berryman's Sonnet 39 is a masterpiece of English literature that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both timeless and relevant. In this 14-line poem, Berryman explores themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death. Let's dive in and see what we can learn from this incredible work of art.
Overview
First, let's take a look at the structure of the poem. Sonnet 39 follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, with 14 lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables with a stress pattern of da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM.
At its core, Sonnet 39 is a reflection on the nature of love and its place in our lives. The poem begins by describing the speaker's intense feelings of love for someone, but quickly takes a darker turn as the speaker contemplates the inevitability of death and the loss that it brings.
Analysis
Let's break down the poem line by line and see what insights we can glean from each one.
O heart, be changeless as the water's flow; For, as the water ever runs away, So pass our joys and sorrows, joys and woe, And love's fierce heat hath little time to stay.
The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker addressing their heart directly and imploring it to remain "changeless as the water's flow." This metaphor suggests that the speaker wants their heart to remain constant and unchanging, much like the steady flow of water. However, the second line introduces the idea that "our joys and sorrows, joys and woe" are fleeting and impermanent, much like the water that "ever runs away."
The final two lines of the quatrain make a poignant statement about the nature of love, suggesting that its "fierce heat hath little time to stay." This line speaks to the transience of love and the inevitability of its passing, a theme that will be revisited throughout the poem.
Think not thy love, with her, shall tears allay; For tears are but the hopeless heart's relief, And Time which heals all sorrows takes away The very thought of unavailing grief.
In the second quatrain, the speaker refutes the idea that love can assuage the pain of loss, stating that "tears are but the hopeless heart's relief." This line suggests that tears, while cathartic, cannot erase the pain of loss or bring back what has been taken away.
The final couplet of the quatrain offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that time can heal all sorrows and eventually erase the pain of grief. However, this hope is tempered by the realization that time can also erase the memory of what was lost, which can be a form of grief in its own right.
Love, then, thyself, and after Heaven above, For, all too soon, the time shall come to thee When thou shalt sleep in thy eternal love, And, like a dream, thy vanished self shall be.
The third quatrain introduces the theme of mortality, with the speaker urging the reader to "love thyself, and after Heaven above." This line suggests that self-love should be a priority, as it is the one constant that will remain even after we are gone.
The final couplet of the quatrain brings the poem full circle, returning to the theme of transience and loss. The speaker warns that the time will come when we will "sleep in thy eternal love," suggesting that death is the ultimate form of loss. The final line, "And, like a dream, thy vanished self shall be," is a haunting reminder of the impermanence of life and the inevitability of our own eventual passing.
Interpretation
So, what can we take away from this poem? At its core, Sonnet 39 is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of loss. Through the use of metaphor and imagery, Berryman highlights the impermanence of love and the fleeting nature of joy and sorrow.
However, the poem is not entirely without hope. The final couplet suggests that self-love can provide a sense of stability in the face of life's uncertainty, and that time can eventually heal the wounds of grief. But even this hope is tempered by the realization that death is the ultimate form of loss, and that all things must eventually pass away.
Overall, Sonnet 39 is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the moments we have while we still have them. It is a beautiful work of art that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both timeless and universal, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry as a means of expression and reflection.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 39 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of love, loss, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, telling her that he loves her more than anything else in the world. He says that he loves her more than the stars in the sky, the sun, and the moon. He then goes on to say that his love for her is so strong that it can never be broken, even by death.
The first thing that strikes the reader about this poem is its structure. It is a sonnet, which means that it has 14 lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of Sonnet 39 is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final two lines, or the couplet, rhyme with each other.
The structure of the poem is important because it helps to convey the message of the poem. The sonnet form is traditionally used for love poetry, and Berryman uses it to great effect in Sonnet 39. The strict structure of the poem mirrors the strict rules of love and the constraints that society places on it.
The language of the poem is also important. Berryman uses a lot of imagery to convey the depth of the speaker's love. He compares his love to the stars in the sky, the sun, and the moon. These are all things that are eternal and unchanging, just like the speaker's love for his lover.
The language of the poem is also very emotive. Berryman uses words like "passion," "desire," and "longing" to convey the intensity of the speaker's feelings. He also uses words like "death" and "eternity" to show that the speaker's love is not just a passing fancy, but something that will last forever.
One of the key themes of Sonnet 39 is the idea of love as a force that can overcome even death. The speaker says that his love for his lover is so strong that it can never be broken, even by death. This is a powerful statement, and it shows the depth of the speaker's feelings.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of love as a constraint. The strict structure of the sonnet form mirrors the strict rules of love and the constraints that society places on it. The speaker is constrained by his love for his lover, and he cannot imagine a life without her.
Overall, Sonnet 39 by John Berryman is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and the human condition. The structure, language, and themes of the poem all work together to create a powerful and emotive piece of literature. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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