'Dream Song 90: Op. posth. no. 13' by John Berryman
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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968In the night-reaches dreamed he of better graces,
of liberations, and beloved faces,
such as now ere dawn he sings.
It would not be easy, accustomed to these things,
to give up the old world, but he could try;
let it all rest, have a good cry.Let Randall rest, whom your self-torturing
cannot restore one instant's good to, rest:
he's left us now.
The panic died and in the panic's dying
so did my old friend. I am headed west
also, also, somehow.In the chambers of the end we'll meet again
I will say Randall, he'll say Pussycat
and all will be as before
whenas we sought, among the beloved faces,
eminence and were dissatisfied with that
and needed more.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 90: Op. posth. no. 13 by John Berryman
John Berryman's Dream Song 90: Op. posth. no. 13 is a haunting and deeply personal poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and regret. Written in the style of the Dream Song sequence, the poem is a complex and layered work that requires careful analysis and interpretation. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes and motifs present in Dream Song 90 and offer my own insights into this remarkable piece of literature.
Background
Dream Song 90 is part of Berryman's larger Dream Song sequence, a collection of 385 poems that were published in three volumes between 1964 and 1968. The Dream Songs are characterized by their surreal imagery, fragmented syntax, and recurring motifs. Berryman often used the Dream Songs to explore his own personal demons, including his struggles with alcoholism and his fraught relationship with his father.
Dream Song 90 is one of the posthumously published poems in the sequence, and was first included in Delusions, Etc., which was published in 1972, two years after Berryman's death. The poem has been widely praised for its honesty and emotional depth, and is considered one of the finest examples of Berryman's work.
Analysis
Structure and Form
Dream Song 90 is written in free verse, and is characterized by its irregular meter and fragmented syntax. The poem is divided into six stanzas of varying lengths, with each stanza containing a different number of lines. The lack of a fixed structure in the poem reflects the turbulent emotional state of the speaker, and the fragmented syntax reinforces the sense of disorientation and confusion that pervades the poem.
Themes and Motifs
The central theme of Dream Song 90 is grief and loss. The speaker is mourning the death of someone close to him, and is struggling to come to terms with his feelings of regret and guilt. The motif of the funeral is present throughout the poem, with the speaker describing the scene in vivid and haunting detail. The funeral serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own emotional state, and the sense of loss and finality that accompanies death is mirrored in the speaker's own feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Another recurring motif in the poem is that of time and memory. The speaker is haunted by memories of the past, and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that these memories are now gone forever. The lines "the times we had are carried off like leaves / that blow away," serve as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time, and the inevitability of loss.
Imagery and Language
One of the most striking features of Dream Song 90 is its use of vivid and often surreal imagery. The funeral is described in terms of a dream-like landscape, with the speaker describing the "cemetery drenched with rain" and the "black hearse in a dim light." The use of vivid and sensory language serves to heighten the emotional impact of the poem, and creates a sense of otherworldliness that is characteristic of the Dream Song sequence.
The language of the poem is also notable for its musicality and its use of repetition. The repeated refrain of "the dead man's gone" serves to reinforce the finality of death, while the repetition of the phrase "I cannot say" creates a sense of hesitation and uncertainty on the part of the speaker. The musicality of the language serves to create a sense of rhythm and movement in the poem, and reinforces the sense of emotional turmoil that the speaker is experiencing.
Interpretation
Dream Song 90 is a deeply personal and emotionally charged poem that speaks to the universal experience of grief and loss. Through its use of vivid imagery and fragmented syntax, the poem creates a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors the speaker's own emotional state. The funeral serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of despair and hopelessness, and the sense of finality that accompanies death is mirrored in the speaker's own feelings of regret and guilt.
One of the most powerful aspects of Dream Song 90 is its use of repetition and musicality. The repeated refrain of "the dead man's gone" serves to reinforce the finality of death, while the repetition of the phrase "I cannot say" creates a sense of hesitation and uncertainty on the part of the speaker. The musicality of the language serves to create a sense of rhythm and movement in the poem, and reinforces the sense of emotional turmoil that the speaker is experiencing.
In conclusion, Dream Song 90: Op. posth. no. 13 is a haunting and deeply personal poem that speaks to the universal experience of grief and loss. Through its use of vivid imagery and fragmented syntax, the poem creates a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors the speaker's own emotional state. The funeral serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of despair and hopelessness, and the sense of finality that accompanies death is mirrored in the speaker's own feelings of regret and guilt. The poem is a remarkable example of Berryman's work, and stands as a testament to his ability to capture the complexity and nuance of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s Dream Song 90: Op. posth. no. 13 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of mortality, loss, and the human condition. The poem is part of Berryman’s Dream Songs collection, which is considered one of the most significant works of American poetry in the 20th century. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of Dream Song 90, examining its structure, language, and imagery.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his friend, Henry, who has passed away. The speaker expresses his grief and confusion at Henry’s death, saying, “Henry, your groom’s unfathomable fate / Tho’ you riderless lean to the left, to the right / In the phrenetic gallop, the funeral state.” The image of a riderless horse is a powerful symbol of loss and abandonment, as if Henry’s death has left the speaker adrift and alone.
The poem then shifts to a dream-like sequence, where the speaker imagines himself as a bird flying over the landscape. He describes the scene below him in vivid detail, saying, “The fields are purple, the skies are blue / The trees are green, the cows are white / The hills are gold, the streams are bright.” This idyllic scene is a stark contrast to the speaker’s earlier grief, and it suggests a sense of hope and renewal.
However, the dream sequence is short-lived, and the speaker soon returns to his mourning. He reflects on the inevitability of death, saying, “Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her, / Alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams / And our desires.” This line is a reference to the Greek myth of Adonis, who was killed by a wild boar and became a symbol of beauty and youth. The speaker seems to suggest that death is a necessary part of life, and that it is through death that we can achieve a sense of fulfillment.
The poem then takes a surreal turn, as the speaker imagines himself as a “black man” who is “dancing in the streets.” This image is jarring and unexpected, and it suggests a sense of disorientation and confusion. The speaker seems to be grappling with his own identity and his place in the world, as if he is searching for some kind of meaning or purpose.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic, as the speaker describes a scene in which “the sun comes up, and the sun goes down / And the world spins round and round and round.” This image is both cyclical and eternal, suggesting that life and death are part of a larger cosmic cycle. The speaker seems to be suggesting that even in the face of death, there is a sense of continuity and renewal.
Dream Song 90 is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its use of vivid imagery, surrealism, and allusion, the poem creates a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors the speaker’s own sense of loss and grief. However, the poem also suggests a sense of hope and renewal, as if even in the face of death, there is a sense of continuity and purpose. Overall, Dream Song 90 is a powerful and moving work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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