'Dream Song 49: Blind' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964Old Pussy-cat if he won't eat, he don't
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Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Dream Song 49: Blind - A Deep Dive
John Berryman’s Dream Song 49: Blind is a complex and thought-provoking poem that offers readers a glimpse into the speaker's innermost thoughts and feelings. In this poem, Berryman explores themes of loneliness, fear, and the fragility of existence. Through a unique use of language and imagery, Berryman creates an intriguing and engaging work of poetry that is both challenging and rewarding.
The Structure of the Poem
Dream Song 49: Blind is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines. However, unlike traditional sonnets, this poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme. Instead, Berryman uses a free-form structure that allows him to experiment with language and imagery. The poem is divided into two parts: the octet and the sestet. The octet consists of eight lines, while the sestet consists of six lines. The octet presents the speaker's thoughts on blindness, while the sestet explores the speaker's fear of death.
The Octet
The octet begins with the speaker describing the experience of being blind. He says, "My father used to say, 'Superior people never make long visits, have to be shown Longfellow's grave or the glass flowers at Harvard.'" This line sets the tone for the poem and establishes the speaker's feelings of isolation and loneliness. The speaker then goes on to describe how blind people are often ignored or overlooked by society. He says, "But I say it is the blindness of the great writers / which permits them to speak the truth." Here, Berryman is suggesting that blindness allows people to see beyond the superficial and to see the truth of the world.
The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of the world, even for those who are blind. He says, "I am not a philosopher, I am the friend / of beauty, and I hold her cruel, and I adore her." This line is particularly interesting because it suggests that the speaker's love of beauty is both a blessing and a curse. Beauty is "cruel" because it reminds the speaker of his own limitations and mortality, but he still "adores" it anyway.
The octet concludes with the speaker questioning the nature of existence. He says, "What wonders is this world, the artist praised? / But there is the questioner." Here, Berryman is suggesting that even in the face of beauty and wonder, there is still a sense of uncertainty and doubt about the nature of existence.
The Sestet
The sestet shifts the focus of the poem from blindness to the fear of death. The speaker says, "I have looked at those who serve me and been angry." Here, Berryman is suggesting that the speaker is resentful of those who are still alive, as he is haunted by the knowledge of his own mortality. The speaker then goes on to describe the experience of dying, saying, "the dying people smell bad / & sometimes they do not die / but they are all going, / the ones who cling & the ones who are glad."
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. The speaker says, "If we see that which is taken / we see the future or we hold the past." Here, Berryman is suggesting that death is not an end, but rather a continuation of existence. The speaker is forced to confront his own mortality and the inevitability of death.
The Use of Language
One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 49: Blind is the unique use of language. Berryman uses a variety of literary devices, including alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a musical and rhythmic effect. For example, in the line "But I say it is the blindness of the great writers," Berryman uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and flow. The repetition of the "b" sound in "blindness" and "great writers" creates an almost musical effect.
The Imagery
Berryman also uses vivid and memorable imagery to enhance the emotional impact of the poem. For example, in the line "the dying people smell bad," Berryman uses the sense of smell to create a visceral and unpleasant image. The use of sensory imagery like this helps to bring the poem to life and makes it more relatable to readers.
Conclusion
Dream Song 49: Blind is a complex and challenging work of poetry that rewards careful analysis and interpretation. Through a unique use of language and imagery, Berryman explores themes of loneliness, fear, and the fragility of existence. By the end of the poem, the speaker is forced to confront his own mortality and the inevitability of death. This is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s Dream Song 49: Blind is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition. Through its vivid imagery and haunting language, the poem invites readers to contemplate the nature of existence and the fragility of life.
At its core, Blind is a meditation on the experience of blindness, both literal and metaphorical. The speaker of the poem is a blind man who is struggling to come to terms with his condition. He describes his blindness as a kind of prison, a state of being trapped in darkness and unable to see the world around him. He longs for the freedom and clarity of sight, but knows that it is forever beyond his reach.
The poem is structured in a series of short, fragmented stanzas that reflect the speaker’s fragmented state of mind. The language is dense and often difficult to parse, with multiple layers of meaning and allusion. Berryman draws on a wide range of literary and cultural references, from Shakespeare to Freud, to create a rich and complex tapestry of images and ideas.
One of the most striking features of Blind is its use of repetition. Throughout the poem, Berryman repeats certain phrases and images, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the reader forward. For example, the phrase “I am blind” appears multiple times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis and inflection. This repetition serves to reinforce the central theme of the poem, while also creating a sense of urgency and intensity.
Another key element of Blind is its exploration of the relationship between the self and the world. The speaker of the poem is acutely aware of his own isolation and separateness from the world around him. He describes himself as a “ghost” or a “shadow,” a being that exists on the margins of society and is unable to fully participate in the world. At the same time, however, he longs for connection and intimacy, and is haunted by the memory of a lost love.
The poem also touches on themes of mortality and the inevitability of death. The speaker is acutely aware of his own mortality, and describes himself as being “half in love with easeful death.” He is haunted by the memory of his own father’s death, and is filled with a sense of dread and foreboding about his own eventual demise.
Despite its bleak themes and haunting imagery, Blind is ultimately a deeply human and empathetic poem. Berryman’s language is raw and unvarnished, but also deeply compassionate. The speaker’s struggles with blindness and isolation are universal experiences, and the poem invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loneliness and alienation.
In conclusion, John Berryman’s Dream Song 49: Blind is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition. Through its vivid imagery and haunting language, the poem invites readers to contemplate the nature of existence and the fragility of life. Despite its bleak themes, Blind is ultimately a deeply human and empathetic work that speaks to the universal experiences of loneliness and isolation.
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