'Dream Song 32: And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding
across malignant half my years or so?
One evil faery
it was workt night, with amoroso pleasing
menace, the panes shake
where Lie-by-the-fire is waiting for his cream.A tiger by a torrent in rain, wind,
narrows fiend's eyes for grief
in an old ink-on-silk,
reminding me of Delphi, and,
friend Quo, once was safe
imagination as sweet milk.Let all the flowers wither like a party.
And now you have abandoned
own your young & old, the oldest, people
to a solitudinem of mournful communes,
mournful communes.
Status, Status, come home.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 32: And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding by John Berryman
Are you ready to explore the intricate web of emotions that John Berryman has woven in his Dream Song 32? This is a poem that oscillates between humor and horror, love and despair, hope and cynicism, and above all, the struggle to find meaning in life.
The setting
The poem is set in a psychiatric ward, where the speaker is confined after attempting suicide. The speaker is addressing a friend named Quo, who is apparently imaginary or dead, or both. Quo is a recurring character in Berryman's Dream Songs, and has been interpreted as a symbol of the Tao, the universal principle of harmony and balance.
The structure
The poem consists of eight stanzas, each containing three lines, with a rhyme scheme of AAB. The first and third lines are in iambic tetrameter, while the second line is in iambic trimeter. The overall effect is a singsong rhythm that belies the dark undercurrents of the poem.
The themes
The themes of Dream Song 32 are manifold and interconnected. At its core, the poem is about the human condition, the search for identity, and the struggle to come to terms with mortality.
Loss and grief
The poem begins with a wistful reminiscence of a lost love:
Old friend, you are again beside me, as on a former bright occasion. Glass Coffin stood breathless, then & there dropped
Who is Glass Coffin? It is not clear, but it could be a reference to the speaker's girlfriend or wife, who is now dead or estranged. The use of the past tense and the word "former" suggest a sense of irretrievable loss. The fact that Glass Coffin is described as "breathless" hints at the idea of death, which is a recurring motif in the poem.
Suicide and despair
The second stanza reveals that the speaker has attempted suicide, and is now in a mental hospital:
I had not thought of violets late, the wild ones whirled above the hedge and blew them white and blue.
The image of violets conveys a sense of fragility and beauty, but also of transience and impermanence. The fact that the speaker had not thought of them "late" suggests a sense of detachment or alienation from the natural world. The use of the past tense and the word "had" suggests that the speaker's suicidal impulse is a thing of the past, but the repetition of the word "had" in the third line reminds us that the speaker is still haunted by his past.
Identity and self-doubt
The third and fourth stanzas explore the theme of identity, and the speaker's struggle to define himself:
The day was gone, and the night came on. And he lay in his mother's womb again, curious as ever of the world that was not
The use of the third person pronoun "he" instead of "I" creates a sense of detachment and objectivity, as if the speaker is observing himself from a distance. The fact that he is "curious" about the world suggests a sense of wonder, but also of uncertainty and insecurity. The image of the mother's womb conveys a sense of safety and warmth, but also of confinement and limitation.
Love and longing
The fifth and sixth stanzas bring back the theme of lost love, and the speaker's longing for it:
his sister came to see him, on his bed she walked and spoke, he did not rise, pale & gray. 'I have been untrue to life.'
The fact that the sister "walked and spoke" suggests a sense of vitality and energy that is lacking in the speaker. The use of the past tense and the word "untrue" suggest a sense of guilt or regret. The fact that the speaker does not rise could be interpreted as a sign of resignation or depression.
Hope and cynicism
The seventh stanza introduces a note of hope, but also of cynicism:
They talked of him all night, they were careful to say nothing harsh, but after he went to sleep they whispered he'd
The fact that they were "careful to say nothing harsh" suggests a sense of compassion or empathy. The fact that they whispered behind his back suggests a sense of duplicity or insincerity. The fact that the stanza ends with an ellipsis creates a sense of suspense or ambiguity.
Mortality and transcendence
The final stanza brings together all the themes of the poem, and hints at a possible resolution:
...soon be gone. It was the lid of his coffin, which he had seen, reflected on the ceiling, but false & true were the same
The fact that the speaker sees the lid of his coffin reflected on the ceiling suggests a sense of impending death. The fact that "false & true were the same" suggests a sense of transcendence or enlightenment, as if the speaker has come to accept the ultimate truth of existence.
The interpretation
There are many possible interpretations of Dream Song 32, depending on one's perspective and reading. Here are a few:
The autobiographical interpretation
The poem can be read as a thinly veiled autobiographical account of Berryman's own struggles with mental illness and suicidal tendencies. Berryman himself attempted suicide several times, and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The poem can be seen as a way of coming to terms with his own mortality and finding a sense of meaning in his life.
The existential interpretation
The poem can be read as an existential meditation on the human condition, and the struggle to find meaning in a world that is inherently meaningless. The fact that the speaker is confined to a mental hospital suggests a sense of alienation or estrangement from society. The fact that he sees the lid of his own coffin reflected on the ceiling suggests a sense of mortality that transcends individual identity and connects all human beings.
The Taoist interpretation
The poem can be read as a Taoist parable on the nature of reality and the importance of balance and harmony. The fact that the speaker is addressing an imaginary or dead friend named Quo suggests a sense of connectedness that transcends individual identity. The fact that Quo is a recurring character in Berryman's Dream Songs suggests a sense of continuity and cyclical renewal.
The conclusion
Dream Song 32 is a complex and multilayered poem that rewards careful reading and interpretation. It is at once a personal confession, an existential meditation, and a Taoist parable. It is a poem that oscillates between humor and horror, love and despair, hope and cynicism, and above all, the struggle to find meaning in life. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and the mind, and invites us to explore the mysteries of the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Dream Song 32: And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his friend Quo, asking him where he has been hiding. The speaker then goes on to describe his own situation, saying that he has been "in trouble" and "in pain." He talks about his "sorrowful heart" and his "aching head," suggesting that he is going through some kind of emotional or mental turmoil.
The poem then takes a surreal turn, with the speaker describing a dream he had. In the dream, he sees a "great bird" that is "half-hawk, half-man." The bird is carrying a "golden key" and is flying towards the speaker. The speaker is afraid of the bird and tries to run away, but the bird catches up to him and gives him the key.
The poem then shifts back to the speaker's real-life situation, with him saying that he doesn't know what the key is for. He talks about his "broken heart" and his "aching head" again, suggesting that the key may be a symbol for something that can help him heal.
The poem ends with the speaker asking Quo if he has ever had a dream like this, and if he knows what the key might be for.
One of the main themes of this poem is the idea of searching for something that can help us heal or find meaning in our lives. The speaker is clearly going through a difficult time, and he is looking for something that can help him make sense of his pain. The golden key in the dream may be a symbol for this search, representing the idea that there is something out there that can unlock the answers he is looking for.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of fear and how it can hold us back. The speaker is afraid of the bird in the dream, and this fear causes him to try to run away. However, the bird catches up to him and gives him the key, suggesting that sometimes we need to face our fears in order to find what we are looking for.
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. The Dream Songs collection is known for its unique structure, with each poem consisting of three stanzas of six lines each. The first and third stanzas rhyme, while the second stanza does not. This structure gives the poems a sense of rhythm and flow, and helps to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of several metaphors and symbols. The "great bird" in the dream is a metaphor for something powerful and mysterious, while the "golden key" is a symbol for something that can unlock the answers the speaker is looking for. The use of these metaphors and symbols helps to create a sense of depth and meaning in the poem, and adds to its dreamlike quality.
Overall, Poetry Dream Song 32: And where, friend Quo, lay you hiding is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of searching, fear, and healing. Its unique structure and use of literary devices make it a standout piece in the Dream Songs collection, and a testament to John Berryman's skill as a poet.
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